March 14, 2015— At approximately 2:45pm officers responded to a care home facility in Citrus Heights for the report of an “at-risk” missing person. Employees advised that a 58 year old male resident had run away from the facility. The missing subject had been diagnosed with dementia, schizophrenia, bi-polar and requires daily medication.
Officers conducted a search for the “at-risk” missing person for approximately one hour but were unable to locate him. Citrus Heights police dispatch utilized a mass notification system called Everbridge in an attempt to locate the missing subject.
Shortly after sending the notification, an alert citizen who had received the alert, located the missing person on Auburn Boulevard. Officers responded and safely returned him to his home without injury.
This was the second time this year that the Everbridge notification system has helped the Citrus Heights Police Department locate a missing person. In January 2015, a 69 year old female, who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, walked away from her care home. The Everbridge notification system was utilized and an alert citizen located the missing woman and contacted police.
Everbridge is a notification system serving the City of Citrus Heights as well as Placer, Sacramento, and Yolo counties. One of the benefits of the notification system is the ability to send out non-emergency community alerts to citizens who chose to opt-in and register for the program.
The Citrus Heights Police Department appreciates the community involvement and encourages citizens to opt-in for the Everbridge program. To opt-in and register for the program, citizens can go to the Citrus Heights Police Department’s web-site at www.citrusheightspd.com and look under the Emergency Notification System Sign Up logo. This will bring you to the registration forms.
Citizens are able to register several phone numbers such as their work, home, and mobile phone. Citizens can also register to receive Text messages, and e-mails to both their personal and business accounts where allowed. Hearing impaired individuals are also able to register their TTY/TTD lines. Citrus Heights senior citizens that do not have access to a computer or need assistance registering for this program can contact the Citrus Heights Police Department at 916-727-5500.
Author: PIO Sergeant Michael Wells