SAUGERTIES – Police Chief Joseph Sinagra is seeking to help the community and the Saugerties Police Department with the launch of the “Handle with Care” program, designed to give the department’s officers knowledge about community members who may have special needs like autism or suffer from cognitive disorders like Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia.
“It’s a way for us to be more familiar with the population we serve,” said Sinagra, adding “It’s a way for our officers to get more information so they know how to appropriately engage someone.”
Noting that his officers encounter individuals considered to be “on the spectrum” or have other disorders that require special consideration on a regular basis, Chief Sinagra is looking for the community’s help in keeping everyone safe. ”We’ll know what some of their triggers may be, what some of their favorite conversations may be, what they prefer to be called, how to connect, places they usually go to,” he said but the department would like to develop a better database to assist when the need arises.
The online database allows families to upload a photo of a loved one – along with emergency contacts – and any other pertinent information they want police to know if officers were to come in contact with the individual.
Interested individuals can register a loved one through the Saugerties Police Department’s “Handle with Care” database by clicking HERE. The information collected here will not be available to the public.
