Latest news with #SilverAlerts
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New Jersey lawmakers push for Silver Alert notifications on mobile devices
TRENTON, N.J. – State lawmakers are working on a bill to protect those who can't protect themselves. Many of us are familiar with the notifications we get on our phones in the event of an Amber Alert—usually accompanied by a long, drawn-out audio and haptic notification. Lawmakers here envision the same thing for Silver Alerts. More Local News 'That individual needs our help immediately,' said Assemblywoman Annette Quijano (D-NJ 20th District). 'Not two days later, but immediately… We must protect all our members of our families – young and old.' A Silver Alert goes out in the event of a missing person who is believed to be suffering from Alzheimer's disease, dementia, or other cognitive impairment, regardless of age, and is believed to be in danger. Silver Alerts are often seen on highway message boards and on social media, but aren't automatically sent to the masses like Amber Alerts. New legislation from Quijano looks to change that. 'As we all age and our parents are aging, I think individuals are now grappling with 'what do you do?' and this is one answer to that question,' said Quijano. Republican Assemblyman Antwan McClellan voted to advance the bill in Thursday's Public Safety and Preparedness Committee. 'Time is crucial so you never know — especially if somebody has dementia — if it's cold, you don't know how they left the house and what elements they're walking into,' said McClellan (R-NJ 1st District). 'We want to make sure that we get to them before they cause any physical harm to themselves.' 'Within the first 24 hours statistically, most people are found safely,' said Ken Zaentz, President and CEO of Alzheimer's New Jersey. 'But in the second 24 hours, about 50 percent of those who have wandered, when they are found, they've succumbed.' Zaentz says at least 60 percent of people with Alzheimer's will wander at some point, oftentimes out of confusion, frustration, or fear. 'Maybe they're looking for a place that was familiar, like a place they used to live,' said Zaentz, 'or if they worked nearby they could be traveling towards that workplace.' The bill advanced through the committee on Thursday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Yahoo
RI lawmaker seeks to create ‘Linda Alert' for those with disabilities
CRANSTON, R.I. (WPRI) — Linda DaLomba's whereabouts were unknown for four days before she was discovered curled up in the backseat of a parked car. The 45-year-old woman, who's autistic and nonverbal, vanished last Wednesday while her caregiver was visiting a nail salon, according to police. Investigators believe DaLomba got out of the car in the nail salon parking lot and walked down the street to the unlocked vehicle, where she remained until she was found Sunday afternoon. DaLomba's disappearance triggered an extensive citywide search, and detectives began fearing the worst as her caregiver continued to provide them with conflicting statements regarding her potential whereabouts. RELATED: Caregiver was at nail salon when autistic woman went missing Thankfully, a mechanic with the Cranston Fire Department went outside to jumpstart his family friend's car and found DaLomba laying down in the backseat. He decided to call the police after hearing about DaLomba's disappearance on the news. 'At first I thought, 'There's no way it's that missing lady,'' Savong Sam recalled. 'But it ended up actually being her.' Now that DaLomba is safe and sound, Rep. Christopher Paplauskas, R-Cranston, is calling for the creation of a notification system that would assist officers in future searches for missing individuals with intellectual disabilities. 'We have AMBER Alerts for children and we have Silver Alerts for seniors,' Paplauskas said. 'This would close that gap in public safety, which we seemed to realize exists over the course of the last week here in Cranston.' Paplauskas said the idea originally came from Cranston Mayor Ken Hopkins, who mentioned it while honoring Sam for his heroic efforts earlier this week. 'I think this is an opportunity, and I learned a long time ago that out of tragedies come opportunities,' Hopkins said, adding that he actually got the idea from Cranston Police Col. Michael Winquist. 'I think it's something that the state needs, and I think it's a great idea.' Paplauskas said the notification system would be called the 'Linda Alert,' and would be activated for missing individuals who have disabilities. SEE ALSO: Cranston honors man who found missing autistic woman He added that other states have already implemented similar notification systems, including Florida, Georgia, New York and Texas. 'Hopefully we can do that here in Rhode Island too,' he said. Though Paplauskas has not yet introduced legislation to create the new notification system, he said the idea already has bipartisan support. He has also proactively reached out to the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency, which would be responsible for creating and maintaining the proposed notification system. 'I want to act fast on this,' he said. 'Once the I's are dotted and the T's are crossed, I'm going to submit it.' DaLomba's caregiver, 43-year-old Roberta Gerard, has since been arrested and charged with abuse, neglect or exploitation of an adult with severe impairments, as well as falsely reporting a crime and obstruction of an officer in the execution of duty. Gerard faced a judge Monday and was released on $5,000 surety bail pending her next court date, which is slated for June. NEXT: Caretaker charged with lying to police after woman went missing Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Boston Globe
26-03-2025
- Boston Globe
Mayor calls for R.I. to adopt new alert to find missing disabled people, after search for nonverbal woman with autism
Related : According to court documents, police said Gerard admitted she lied after investigators confronted her with information they compiled from license plate readers and cell phone records showing Gerard's actual whereabouts, far from the store. Get Rhode Island News Alerts Sign up to get breaking news and interesting stories from Rhode Island in your inbox each weekday. Enter Email Sign Up She allegedly told police she lied because she is only allowed to take clients to public places, police wrote in an affidavit. DaLomba went missing after Gerard went inside her boyfriend's house on North Clarendon Street for 'just a few minutes,' police said she told investigators. Advertisement DaLomba only turned up after Savong Sam, a 40-year-old mechanic for the Cranston Fire Department, found her Sunday lying inside a Honda Pilot SUV he planned to fix for a friend, Sam said. 'I went to jump start the vehicle because the battery was dead …. I looked back and I noticed Linda laying in the back,' Sam told reporters Wednesday at Cranston City Hall, where he received a citation from Hopkins, who called him a hero for locating DaLomba. Hopkins also suggested law enforcement be given a new tool to help find missing persons with disabilities. Authorities already use Amber Alerts to notify the public of missing children and Silver Alerts to amplify cases of missing seniors, especially those with mental disabilities and impairments. According to the 'We don't have anything in the state that would help us to find somebody like that, and it would be a great idea if we could post those message boards along the state highways and help us in that possible search,' Hopkins said, suggesting the tool be called a 'Linda Alert.' Advertisement The mayor told reporters he was approached by Cranston Police Chief Michael Winquist about the idea, and passed it along to state Representative Christopher G. Paplauskas. 'I think it's a great idea, and I appreciate the mayor calling me on it and suggesting it,' Paplauskas, a Cranston Republican, told the Globe. 'It's definitely something to look at, for sure.' Police have not released information about how exactly DaLomba ended up in the Honda where she was found. Cranston police Major Todd Patalano told reporters on Wednesday investigators know what happened but will not release additional information due to Gerard's pending case. However, authorities believe DaLomba was in the vehicle for more than a day, he said. Gerard initially reported DaLomba missing around 3:58 p.m. on March 19 and told officials she last saw DaLomba inside the Burlington Coat Factory at 2:30 p.m., police said. Roberta Gerard, 43, of Cranston, R.I., left, leaves Kent County District Court in Warwick on Monday with her attorney, Leah Boisclair, center. Christopher Gavin/Globe staff But after investigators checked surveillance video footage and questioned her, Gerard admitted she made up the story, and later told authorities DaLomba went missing from the back of her vehicle when she went inside to heat up food at 34-36 North Clarendon St., where her boyfriend lives, according to the police affidavit. DaLomba was out of sight for approximately 4 minutes, she allegedly told police. According to the affidavit, Gerard also went to a nail salon that day on Park Avenue, though it was unclear whether DeLomba went to the salon. Advertisement Cell phone records allegedly show Gerard and her boyfriend circled the Park Avenue area that afternoon, prior to reporting DaLomba missing, the filing states. When he discovered DaLomba in his friend's car not far from the salon on Sunday, Sam said he initially thought the person in the Honda was 'a little boy playing hide and seek.' After he told his wife about seeing someone in the vehicle, he realized the person could be DaLomba and called police, he said. 'Growing up, I was always taught to do the right thing no matter, you know, who's watching,' he said. 'So I try to teach my kids the same thing every day.' Gerard was arraigned in Kent County District Court in Warwick on Monday. Because she faces a felony charge, Gerard could not enter a plea, Judge J. Patrick O'Neill said. She remains free on $5,000 surety bail and is due back in court on June 23. According to DaLomba's family, Gerard was DaLomba's personal caregiver at a group home in Lincoln, R.I., operated by the Seven Hills Foundation. A spokesperson for Seven Hills said Monday Gerard was terminated from her position on Friday. Material from previous Globe stories was used in this report. Christopher Gavin can be reached at
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Yahoo
Lincoln County installs 30 license plate cameras to reduce crime
The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office is installing 30 license plate recognition cameras across the county to help solve and reduce serious crimes. The cameras, provided by Flock Safety, are funded through drug asset seizure funds, ensuring no taxpayer money is used. These devices are designed to send real-time alerts to law enforcement when they detect stolen vehicles, wanted suspects, or vehicles associated with AMBER or Silver Alerts. Federal agencies conduct sex offender compliance operation in Lincoln County The cameras capture still photos of license plates but do not record video. They are not intended for monitoring traffic violations such as stoplight or stop sign infractions, nor can they be used for vehicle accidents. Data collected by the cameras is stored for 30 days and is only accessible to administration ranking law enforcement officers conducting felony crime investigations or searching for missing persons. Access to the system requires an OCA case file number, ensuring that data is used strictly for criminal investigations. The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office emphasizes that the data is never sold or shared with third-party individuals or companies. The contract with Flock Safety also allows access to thousands of cameras installed by businesses and homeowner associations in the area, further extending the reach of the surveillance network. The sheriff's office has already seen success with these cameras, as they recently aided in solving a multi-jurisdictional breaking and entering case. VIDEO: 'It's just shocking': Man charged in double homicide in Lincoln County
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
TBI releases new resources for senior citizens
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) released new resources for senior citizens across the state. TBI Find is an Apple and Android-friendly mobile application meant to provide the public with up-to-the-minute updates on Silver Alerts. Additionally, the app will provide seniors with resources on education and support. 📧 Have breaking news come to you: → CareKit is one of the app's main features, which the TBI said allows users to compile information and pictures of loved ones to email to law enforcement in the event of an emergency. While the app is primarily intended for senior citizens, the agency also recommended parents of children consider utilizing this feature because updated information and pictures can be hindrances in missing persons emergencies. 'I think there's a lot of concern about protecting people as they get older,' commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Health, Dr. Ralph Alvarado, said. 'It's part of the effort to help protect people as they get older in this state. We're trying to develop an age-friendly ecosystem in Tennessee. We've got not only TBI, [but] a lot of our departments in the state government are focusing on that.' TBI's Assistant Special Agent in Charge overseeing the Missing Persons Unit, Shelly Smitherman, said the app empowers the public to prepare for emergencies before they happen, which helps when time is of the essence. 'Too many times we issue Silver, AMBER, or Endangered Child alerts with out-of-date pictures or incomplete or inaccurate details of the missing person,' Smitherman said. In a Wednesday press release, the agency said the app has been in development for more than two years. Smitherman said the agency believes it to be the first mobile app of its kind in the U.S. 'TBI Find is a powerful tool, giving you instant alerts and vital resources, and it can also be a game changer for law enforcement in an emergency,' Smitherman added. Additionally, the TBI launched the SafeSeniorTN campaign website. The website includes information about email and text messaging safety, healthcare fraud and patient abuse. That information is compiled through the work of agents in the Medicaid Fraud Control Division and the Cybercrime & Digital Evidence Unit as well as other partner agencies. 'We're tired of seeing seniors being victimized, when common-sense advice could have saved both headache and heartache,' TBI's Assistant Special Agent in Charge of its Medicaid Fraud Control Division in East Tennessee, Andy Corbitt, said. 'That's why we've worked to bring together the best guidance in one, trustworthy resource we can update as technology and crime evolves.' ⏩ The campaign also aims to offer clear, concise details on warning signs of elderly abuse and how to report crimes and concerns. Follow this link for more information on how to download the TBI Find app. Follow this link to visit the SafeSeniorTN campaign website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
