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Bellevue PD Joins "Project Lifesaver"

BPD has joined the Sarpy County Sheriff’s office to launch "Project Lifesaver", a nation-wide program to help find lost loved ones. In the event a person with Alzheimer’s or downs syndrome or other condition, wanders away from a caregiver, he or she can be found more quickly. The client wears a bracelet, like the one shown, on her arm or leg. If a person is missing, the officer uses a location device to pick up the radio signal transmitted by the bracelet for up to 2 miles from where the person is.

Lt Bill McClintick said that in the event a person isn’t found right away, Omaha’s Helicopter, Able 1 would respond. He explained, "by putting an officer with the location device on the helicopter our radius increases to 20 miles because we wouldn’t have the interference that we would otherwise have on the ground." According to Project Lifesaver's records, in over 1500 searches, recovery times average fewer than 30 minutes.

Each department on the system has three officers trained to use the equipment. Officers are also trained in how to deal with people who are often disoriented and nervous when they find them. BPD’s trained cops include Officer Pestel, Lowery and Pleiss. Part of each officer’s duties is to check in with each client on a monthly basis to make sure the equipment is properly running and the batteries are charged.

All law enforcement agencies within Sarpy County are trained on the "Project Lifesaver" system. Bellevue residents who want to sign up a loved one for the program should call BPD at 293-3100.

Photo: Project Lifesaver bracelet