Take Me Home
ASSISTING THOSE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS GET HOME
The Take Me Home program was originally developed by the Pensacola (Florida) Police Department to assist those with disabilities who may need extra help communicating during an emergency. This type of help may be required if the individual needs help to speak or correctly identify themselves, if they become disoriented easily, or act in a manner that first responders could misinterpret.
The program is free to any City of Irving resident who may have trouble communicating and is aimed at individuals with autism, Down syndrome and developmental or cognitive disabilities. The program also is intended to assist senior citizens who have dementia or Alzheimer’s.
HOW DO I ENROLL A FAMILY MEMBER?
The program is a database maintained by the Irving Police Department and is only accessible to public safety personnel. Once made aware of the program, families may fill out the online registration form. If the family is uncomfortable filling out the form online, they can contact the Community Services Division at (972) 721-2544 for assistance. A crime prevention officer will then fill out a form for them.
A crime prevention officer will reach out to the family to complete the registration and schedule a time to take a current photograph of the person being registered. This photo (taken by an Irving PD officer) can be taken at the Irving Criminal Justice Center (305 N. O’Connor Road) or the family’s residence making the request.
HOW DOES THE PROGRAM WORK?
- When an officer locates your loved one, the officer will search the Irving PD Take Me Home database.
- Once the officer matches that loved one to the database’s entry, contact will be made with the listed contact person.
- The officer will then make arrangements to get the loved one back home.