For Immediate Release: June 15, 2009

(Toronto, ON) – York Regional Police’s Project Lifesaver Program, which combines radio technology with police rescue teams to build an effective life-saving system for wandering and disoriented loved ones, has been awarded the 2009 OACP Victim’s Assistance Award. The highly successful program assists police with locating missing persons who may be suffering from such illnesses as Alzheimer’s disease, Autism, Down’s syndrome, or other mental disabilities.

“Project Lifesaver has a proven track record in York region of helping police locate missing person in a minimal amount of time,” said Deputy Chief Ken Leendertse (Hamilton Police Service), Chair of the OACP’s Victims’ Assistance Committee. “I congratulate York Regional Police on its strong commitment to putting victims of crime first and its unwavering commitment to partnering with its community partners.”

The OACP Victim Assistance Award is presented by the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police and supported by the Ministry of the Attorney General – Ontario Victim Services Secretariat. The purpose of the award is to recognize and promote the contributions made by members of Ontario Police Services, alone or in partnership with private or public community agencies, for improving the level of service provided to victims of crime, tragic events or other unfortunate circumstances.

Project Lifesaver is a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting and responding to the challenge to caregivers of finding wandering or bolting loved ones who may suffer from Alzheimer's disease, Autism or any other special needs requirements.

Citizens who are a part of the Project Lifesaver program wear a personalized wristband that emits a tracking signal. When caregivers notify York Regional Police that the person is missing, a Search and Rescue Unit team responds to the area where the lost person was last seen and searches the area with a mobile location tracking system. The Project Lifesaver wristband is a one ounce, battery-operated wrist transmitter emitting an FM radio frequency-based signal that emits a signal every second, 24 hours a day.

The signal is tracked on the ground or in the air over several kilometres. As each wristband has a unique radio frequency, the Project Lifesaver team can positively locate and identify the person who has wandered away from home using portable directional antennae to locate the signal. This program operates as a non-profit and works within a cost recovery framework.  York Regional Police partners with The Alzheimer’s Society of York Region and The Autism Society of Ontario on this important initiative.

“I am pleased and proud to accept the prestigious OACP Victim’s Assistance Award for Project Lifesaver”, said York Regional Police Chief Armand La Barge. “The Project Lifesaver program has been a huge success here in York Region and contributes to our ability to protect and if need be, return society’s most vulnerable to the safe and loving environment provided by their families.”

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