CHEBOYGAN — When someone is asked for their address, the answer usually comes up in a matter of seconds. However, for a vulnerable or special needs individual, it can be hard if not impossible to communicate their identity or where they live.
This can create a serious situation, especially for law enforcement.
Now, the Cheboygan County Sheriff’s Department is offering enrollment in the Michigan State Police Vulnerable or Impaired Person (VIP) program that enables a parent or legal guardian of an individual with special needs to voluntarily provide their fingerprints for inclusion in a state database that can be used to identify that person.
“When I first heard of this program I realized that we have several (sheriff department) staff members, including myself, who have a special needs person to care for,” said Cheboygan County Sheriff Todd Ross. “I have a son that had a traumatic brain injury who would have a hard time communicating his contact information should he become lost or disoriented.”
Ross placed Sgt. Michele Meldrum in charge of setting up the program in Cheboygan County.
“The state police offers the fingerprinting capability to us,” said Meldrum.
Sgt. Michele Meldrum of the Cheboygan County Sheriff’s Department shows a hand-held machine used to read fingerprints as part of the Michigan State Police VIP (Vulnerable or Impaired Person) program.
In 2017, legislation was passed allowing a parent/legal guardian/power of attorney of an individual with special needs the right to have those individual’s fingerprints and contact information stored in a state database to assist in future identification.
This is done by electronically collecting fingerprints using a system known as a Live Scan. The Live Scan is a device that captures fingerprints by placing them on a lighted glass screen. The fingerprint is then stored with additional information, including the address of the individual along with the contact name, e-mail and phone number for the person legally responsible for them.
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If a special needs individual encounters law enforcement and that person has fingerprints on file in the database, a simple scan by a hand-held machine can produce a quick identification that helps to eliminate misunderstandings and enables personnel to take precautions to ensure their safety.
Meldrum said this program is ideal for seniors with dementia or anyone who would have a hard time identifying themselves if they became lost or disoriented. In addition to the sheriff’s department, the information in the database can be accessed by other law enforcement personnel in the state or nation.
“If my son were to wander away from me in Grand Rapids, they would be able to fingerprint him and know who he is,” Ross said. It could also work if a family is vacationing somewhere like Disney World in Florida, he added.
Even if a local police department doesn’t have a scanner to read the person’s fingerprints, the state police can provide statewide access to a scanner.
Meldrum said parents, caregivers or legal guardians can come into the sheriff’s department with their family member and fill out a one-page application form and have their fingerprints scanned. There is no charge for the service.
To contact Meldrum or the sheriff’s department, call (231) 627-3155.
— Contact Paul Welitzkin at pwelitzkin@gaylordheraldtimes.com.
This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Cheboygan County Sheriff’s Department offers access to VIP fingerprint program