ADAMS, Mass. — The Police Department will roll out Project Safe Return that will allow local law enforcement to more easily identify people with developmental disabilities.

 

Police Chief Richard Tarsa told the Selectmen last week that the department will now provide developmentally disabled residents with metal identifications tags that will allow police to identify them through a database and better communicate with them.  

 

"It is our goal to get these individuals safely back home and try to help them when they can't help themselves," Tarsa said. "But it can be challenging and frustrating ... sometimes you feel helpless because you know something is wrong but once these go into play, officers will have a better understanding." 

 

Tarsa said the stainless-steel tags lace into shoes and have the department's phone number as well as an identification number. Tarsa said the number will allow the police look up the individual and find information that will help officers communicate.

 

"They cannot interact with you on a normal basis, which makes it very difficult for us in law enforcement when we are trying to communicate and see what the problem is," Tarsa said. "Sometimes it feels like you are up against a wall when you just want to put them at ease." 

 

Tarsa said the individual or individual's parent can provide the department with a photo and fill out an application that identifies address, disability, likes and dislikes, favorite locations and conversation points.

 

The police chief has been working on the program for some time now and purchased the tags himself to move the process along.  

 

"This will not cost the town a cent and to be honest with you to get this up and running I personally footed the bill," he said. "I think there is a need for it and I think it is a very good program because it gives us another tool."

 

He added that the Adams Police Department is on the cutting edge of a state effort to improve officers' ability to communicate with disabled citizens. He said the bulk of his officers have already been through training. 

 

"Except for the new hires all of our full-time officers and sergeants have already been through training so we are ahead of this," Tarsa said. "I have seen officers start playing ball with kids and form a line of communication and a bond."  

 

Selectman Joseph Nowak thanked Tarsa and the Adams Police Department for their efforts. 

 

"I know there are a lot of people that have problems and if we can do anything to help those people it's a plus for all of us," he said. 

 

Tarsa said anyone interested in the program can contact the station and he plans to reach out to the school district.

 

In other business last week, the board approved some Traffic Commission recommendations that included a left-turn arrow with 25 and a right-turn arrow with 25 on Upper East Hoosac Street.

 

Tarsa said he hopes this will slow traffic down and make drivers aware of the sharp turn.

 

The board also approved the placement of a flashing yellow lighted pedestrian crosswalk sign at Burt Street and Columbia Street.

 

"That's a busy section of town and we have Dollar General just north of that," Tarsa said. "There is high vehicle traffic and pedestrian traffic and a few years ago a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle there."  

 

He said because of the trees in the area the crosswalk does get dark and the light will grab drivers' attention. 

 

The final recommendation the board approved was a stop sign on the west side of Columbia Terrace where it intersects with Harding Avenue.

 

"I have seen it firsthand where cars come out of Columbia Terrace and they roll right into Harding Avenue without stopping," Tarsa said. "It is a problem."