Special needs registry

The Police Department offers a special needs registry. This program allows any family to voluntarily provide information regarding a family member who has special needs. Special needs can include any disability that prevents a family member from being able to communicate effectively with officers, including:

• Alzheimer’s Disease
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Bipolar Disorder
• Dementia
• Down Syndrome

The information provided by a parent, guardian or caretaker is stored in a secure database maintained by the Police Department and attached to the address of the resident. This makes the information accessible to responding officers and provides officers the ability to better understand the condition of any family member with special needs.

How does the program work?

Any Menlo Park family that has a child or elderly adult with special needs can participate by completing the information on the form which is linked below. The form provides the department with important information regarding family members that may have a disability which keeps them from being able to communicate with officers. The information on file that explains any disabilities will help assist officers required to respond to your residence or in the event of a loved one wandering away from home or becoming lost.

How to register

Register by clicking on the provided link below and completing the detailed form. There are several questions regarding specific behaviors which will be kept on file in your address history for a period of two years.

Register online

Why should I register my family member?

The detailed information that is provided to the department can assist officers with communicating more effectively with your loved one by helping officers to better understand the disability that they may encounter and the behaviors associated with that disability. Knowledge of important medical, safety or behavioral information can be helpful to officers in understanding how to better interact with an individual during an emergency or in the event that they become separated from family members.

What this program does not offer

This program does not offer special needs residents priority assistance during an emergency. This program does not promise that officers will meet your special need when responding to an emergency call. During emergencies, officers may not be able to access your information or observe your requests due to the nature of the emergency.