Cape Girardeau schools, police seek updated info for Take Me Home program

Cape Girardeau police and school officials are trying to update information for a program designed to help reunite people with disabilities with their families if they become lost.

Under the Take Me Home program, families of people with special needs can submit contact information to the Cape Girardeau School District or the Cape Girardeau Police Department, which will enter the information into a database officers can use to take the person home, according to a news release from the police department.

Authorities are asking program participants to verify their loved ones' information and make sure it is updated. Anyone who would like to register a new participant can do so at no charge, the release stated.

Darin Hickey, public information officer for the Cape Girardeau Police Department, said although the school district is helping with the program, it is available to anyone with a family member of any age who might wander away and be unable to give a police officer a correct address or other information to help him get back home.

Residents of communities outside Cape Girardeau can participate in the program in case a family member ends up in Cape Girardeau.

Registration forms are available from the Cape Girardeau School District or from the Cape Girardeau Police Department website at cityofcape.org/police. For students, forms can be returned to Deena Ring, director of special services with the school district. For all others, forms can be returned to Cape Girardeau police officer Luther Bonds.

For more information, call Ring at 335-1867 or Bonds at 335-6621.