The Take Me Home Program is a free and voluntary service offered by the Roanoke Police Department that allows City of Roanoke residents to register loved ones who may have difficulty communicating with first responders.
Originally developed by the Pensacola, Florida Police Department, the program is designed to help individuals who may need special assistance in the event they are alone or in an emergency. This kind of assistance may be necessary if the individual is has difficulty communicating, unable to speak or properly identify themselves, or if they become disoriented, or act in a manner that could be misinterpreted by first responders. By registering a loved one, first responders will be able to quickly access their photo and information in the event they need help returning home.
Take Me Home is particularly intended to serve loved ones in the community with Autism, Down Syndrome, developmental disabilities or cognitive impairments. The program is also intended to assist senior citizens who suffer from Alzheimer’s, and Dementia.
How to Register
It's easy to enroll your loved one in the Take Me Home Program. Visit the link below to fill out an online form. You must be legally responsible for the person you're registering. You will be asked to provide basic information, a current digital photo, and other important details to help with reunification efforts. Roanoke Police Department personnel will contact you to confirm receipt and to process your submission.
Register Your Loved One
After enrollment, Roanoke Police Department personnel will contact you annually to update the registrant's information. However, it is strongly encouraged that an updated photograph of enrolled persons be submitted every six months, and changes to addresses, phone numbers, emergency contacts, or other information be communicated immediately.
The submitted information is housed and maintained in a secure database accessible only to public safety personnel of the Roanoke Police Department and kept confidential.
How It Works
If an individual registered with the Take Me Home Program goes missing, their photo and description will be immediately available to first responders. In this event, individuals are urged to call 911 immediately to report the person missing and inform Dispatch that their loved one is registered in the Take Me Home database.
The system also works in reverse. If a non-verbal child is found alone, for example, officers and dispatchers can access the Take Me Home database and search by physical description to see if they are in the program. The search results will allow first responders to identify the individual, speak with their emergency contacts, and help them return home.
For more information on the Take Me Home Program, please contact Detective Sciarrillo at 682.549.1400 or email.