Special needs citizens in our community, who are eligible, are fitted with a device, which would allow officers to track them should they become lost. The officers are equipped with locating devices that utilize radio waves to locate the transmitters that the program clients are issued.

Here are some statistics relating to Project Lifesaver:

• Began in 1999 by the Chesapeake Sheriff’s Office, Chesapeake, Virginia, as a search and rescue operation, based on the need to find missing Alzheimer’s victims. Later expanded to finding children with Autism and persons with Down syndrome.
• There are an estimated 5 Million persons in the United States with Alzheimer’s and by 2030, there will be an estimated 15 Million.
• 59% of Alzheimer’s victims develop the tendency to wander and 72% will do so repeatedly.
• If the victim is not found within 24 hrs, there is only a 50% chance they will be recovered alive.
• Project Lifesaver started with 10 clients in Chesapeake Virginia in it’s “pilot program” in April 1999.
• The program achieved success immediately, recovering lost victims in a record average of less than 30 minutes.
• Over 1,500 searches have been conducted nationwide with a 100% success rate. All persons have been recovered alive.
• Project Lifesaver is now operating in 41 states with over 550 agencies in the United States. Information requests have been received from Australia, France, Great Britain, Guam and other countries.

The Ashland Police Department is very proud to offer this special program to our citizens in our community. Should you have any questions pertaining to the program, please contact Lieutenant James Shelhorse at (804)412-0600. You can also visit the website at PROJECTLIFESAVER.ORG