Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office FY22 Project Shield: Protecting Our Most Vulnerable Citizens

Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Project Shield: Protecting Our Most Vulnerable Citizens

Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) is applying for funding to expand services for life-saving technology aimed at providing locative services for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, autism spectrum disorders, and/or other related cognitive/developmental disabilities in Hillsborough County through HCSO Project Shield: Protecting Our Most Vulnerable Citizens.  HCSO is the largest law enforcement agency in Hillsborough County and serves a population of approximately 1.03 million residents in unincorporated Hillsborough County, Florida.  Hillsborough County is situated on the west coast of central Florida and includes 1,266 square miles of land and water.  

HCSO is requesting funding in the amount of $150,000.00 for the acquisition of locative technology and proactive public outreach.  HCSO has a dedicated group of specialty personnel (the Team) that identify, locate, and educate individuals who are prone to wander from safe environments and have no sense of danger.

 HCSO is currently able to track and locate a small number of individuals that have signed up for locative technology assistance through The Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at the University of South Florida (CARD-USF).  CARD-USF provides locative technology resources for individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and related disabilities.  However, the largest demographic in need of locative technology and related services are individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, autism spectrum disorders, and/or other cognitive/developmental disabilities that may make them prone to wander or are at high-risk for leaving safe locations.  Multiple community partners are in support of HCSO Project Shield: Protecting Our Most Vulnerable Citizens.
Through this funding, HCSO will be able to provide access to locative technology to vulnerable citizens that may otherwise be unable to receive access to such services.  The expected outcomes of this program include purchasing emergency locator wearable devices to register vulnerable individuals, purchasing emergency tracking kits for the Team to utilize when necessary, and associated costs for implementation.  Additional outcomes include successful training completion, public outreach and awareness, and participation in OJP efforts to develop standards and best practices.