From The Tribune staff reports
TRUSSVILLE – The Trussville Police Department announced on a Facebook video on Friday, Nov. 18, that the department will now be offering a special needs notification service.
TPD Officer James McCool (Screenshot from the Trussville Police Department Facebook page)
Officer James McCool said that police dispatch can create notifications in their system to alert them when an officer is dispatched to a specific address.
“Trussville residents who have a family member with autism or any other hidden disability can notify the Trussville Police Department so we can better serve you,” McCool said. “For example, if you have a child or an adult on the autism spectrum, an intellectual or developmental disability, Alzheimer’s, dementia, etc., there’s now a way for you to communicate those needs to us prior to an emergency or call for service. … (Dispatch) can, then, relay the pertinent special needs information of your family member or loved one prior to an officer’s arrival.”
The basic information TPD will request when adding someone to this service is:
- Name of the special needs individual
- Address
- Special needs information
- Emergency contact information
Other important information that might assist responding officers include things such as:
- Sensitivity to bright lights and/or loud noises
- If the individual does not like strangers
- Explaining how the individual best communicates and/or responds to others.
“We truly want to be able to provide everyone with the best service we can as public servants, and you can help us do that,” McCool said. “… Our final request is that you please help us by sharing this information with others to help spread the word. Thank you and call us if you need us.
Anyone interested in this service can contact Officer James McCool at 205-661-4005.
