Winter Springs Police Department Special Needs Registry
The Special Needs Registry is a way for the Winter Springs Police Department to better assist residents who have special needs and provide helpful information for emergency responders.
The Special Needs Registry program is completely voluntary. None of the information requested on this form is mandatory.
Parents and caregivers may enroll any person of any age with any type of medical condition or disability, including but not limited to: Autism Spectrum Disorder, Alzheimer's or Dementia, Bipolar Disorder, and Down syndrome. Adults with special needs may also enroll themselves. To register applicants, their parents or guardians complete the Special Needs Registry Form and return the document to the Winter Springs Police Department. Forms can be dropped off at the Department, requested to be picked up by an officer or emailed to the Winter Springs Police Department at tballew [at] winterspringsfl.org (tballew[at]winterspringsfl[dot]org).
What happens once the person is registered?
Participants will receive a Winter Springs Police Department vinyl decal to display on or near the front door of your home or on a vehicle
When a Winter Springs Police Officer has contact with a person listed on the registry, our dispatchers can provide useful information to help the officer successfully interact and communicate with your loved one. The registry can also provide the parent or caregiver's emergency contact information.
Who has access to my family member's profile?
Winter Springs Police personnel who require this information in the performance of their official duties will have access to the information. This information may be shared with other police agencies during an emergency situation, or if the registered person is missing within another jurisdiction. There are strict regulations with respect to accessing and disseminating this information.
Can I update my profile if there are changes? How do I do that?
Information can be updated anytime it might bring a significant impact on our policing response. Some examples would include a change in address, or change in emergency contact information.
Changes can be made by contacting the Winter Springs Police Department Community Relations unit at tballew [at] winterspringsfl.org (tballew[at]winterspringsfl[dot]org) or by submitting a new registration form.
How will this registry help if my family member is missing?
If the registered individual is reported missing by the parent/guardian, our responding police officers have easy access to their information through the Special Needs registry. Knowing an individual's special needs (including triggers, stimulants, and de-escalation techniques) greatly assists our officers in locating your loved one, and safely handling an encounter.
If the individual is not reported missing, but otherwise is contacted by our police officers, a computer query of our Special Needs Registry may allow to quickly identify and reunite your loved one.