By Ken Kosky, Times of Northwest Indiana
ken.kosky@nwi.com
VALPARAISO | The Valparaiso Police Department will begin checking on the city's elderly residents and those with special needs whenever there is a heat wave, cold snap or an event such as a tornado.
The program -- called the Citizen Care Program -- is designed to keep an eye on vulnerable residents who don't have family or close friends in the area to check on them. People just need to sign up to begin receiving the well-being checks.
Sign-up forms are available at the Police Department, 355 Washington St., or by visiting valparaisopolice.org and clicking on the senior care program to print and mail the form. People who know someone who could benefit from the program are asked to encourage them to sign up.
Then, any time the heat index exceeds 100 degrees for two consecutive days, the temperature falls below 5 degrees for two straight days or 6 inches of snow fall in 24 hours, a police employee will call the people on the list. If police don't reach the person, they will try the person's emergency contacts or visit the person's home.
Police also will check on people in the event of a power outage, earthquake, tornado or any other potentially threatening condition.
Police are pairing with several organizations in the community to assist those who need help by getting them to cooling or warming facilities or providing other services.
Police Chief Michael Brickner said the new program gives the department one more way to serve the community. The program was modeled after a similar one in Burlington, N.J.