The Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office has announced they will begin Project Lifesaver this month. The program assists law enforcement and community members in monitoring high-risk individuals who have a tendency to wander. The organization is a pioneer in using technology and strategic methods to bring loved ones home.

The goal is to streamline search and rescue procedures and to help save lives, Undersheriff Aaron Rochon said.

A monitoring device, worn as a bracelet, transmits a signal that local law enforcement can track with receivers placed in police vehicles, attached to a drone or carried on foot.

The program is geared toward those with cognitive disorders like Alzheimer’s/dementia, autism or Down syndrome, which can cause them to be put in a life-threatening situation.

DICKINSON COUNTY UNDERSHERIFF Aaron Rochon displays the Project Lifesaver device. The new program will assist law enforcement and community members in monitoring high-risk individuals who might wander. The bracelet will transmit signals to receivers that will be utilized by local agencies. (Terri Castelaz/Daily News photo)

“There is a process that potential clients need to go through” to be part of the program, Rochon said.

Applications will be reviewed by a local board that includes law enforcement, with Iron Mountain Police Department, Kingsford Public Safety and Norway Police Department assisting in the program along with board members Amy Brunswick and Shelby Merckx.

Program coordinators received training in January and are in the process of training other officers within their departments. Rochon anticipates the first device will be operating by the end of this month.

A trained representative from one of the participating agencies will meet with

the client and caregiver periodically to ensure proper maintenance of equipment and replace batteries and bands.

Each client’s profile and records will be kept at the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office Central Dispatch for quick access.

Rochon stressed that a family member/caretaker needs to immediately report someone who’s potentially missing.

“A person’s initial reaction is to look themselves before calling law enforcement,” he said. “What they don’t realize, even if it’s 10 minutes, that’s more time that has passed for that person to wander even further.”

The device detection is about a mile. “We are definitely restricted with distance,” Rochon said. “Don’t look and then call us — don’t think you are wasting our time, because you are not.”

This was one message that really struck home during the training, he said. “If we have to get called off five minutes later because you found them, that’s great; we’d rather have it that way.”

The program will be available to participants at no cost, thanks to donations.

The sheriff’s department was awarded about $16,300 last fall from 100-Plus Women Who Care.

“We were astonished by the amount of money — so appreciative of the support,” Rochon said. “This was an integral part of providing funding for starting the project.”

Those interested in donating to the program can contact Rochon at the sheriff’s office.

Those interested in the program can pick up an application at any one of the local police agencies.

For more information on Project Lifesaver, go to www.projectlifesaver.org.