Program Purpose

The Woodbridge Police Department partners with Middlesex County  Special Needs Registry to assist individuals who are unable to communicate and who lose the ability to recognize familiar places or faces. The purpose of the registry is to help law enforcement and first responders better assist special needs residents in an emergency situation or a police encounter. The registry provides crucial information regarding a registrant’s special needs, i.e., physical or mental impairment, emergency contact information, physical description, and current photograph.

There are people who wander away from locations that are familiar to them and become scared, disoriented and lost. This program has been developed to help those who are reported missing and to ease the stress on a caregiver. Too often we read in the newspaper, that someone with an average description gets lost and is unable to be located. This program will benefit the family, police, and the victim. Families will know that a plan has been put into effect to help locate their loved one. The Woodbridge Police realize that time is of the essence when locating a missing person who cannot care for themselves. 

Mission

It is the mission of the Woodbridge Police Department to expedite the return of your loved one, which can reduce the stress on both the missing person as well as the caregiver. The Special Needs Registry gives officers direct access while on patrol to vital information including a digital photograph.  This information can be displayed on a mobile laptop computer inside a police vehicle within minutes should a person be located or is reported missing.  

Registration

Individuals can register themselves, or they can be registered by a family member or a caretaker on our secure website here.