Ocoee PD offers Guardian Program

The Ocoee Police Department’s Guardian Program offers peace of mind for parents and family members of individuals with autism and other disorders. 

“I think it’s wonderful,” Autism and Related Disability’s Gym founder Jo-Anne Houwers said. “It makes me feel better knowing that that’s in place.” 

The Guardian Program was founded in April 2021, during Autism Awareness month. It has since grown to serve people with other disorders, as well.

Through the program, family members and friends of individuals who have been diagnosed with autism or other disorders can register their loved ones into a database. 

The database collects identifying information of the individuals and allows family members to specify their special needs, as well as any specific instructions that can help the police officer who responds to the call to better interact with them. 

“Once that information is submitted and it’s received by us, then it’s visible only to first responders,” Ocoee Police Sgt. Kurtis Beck said. “That is a tool that we use when first responders encounter someone that has been enrolled and is in need of help, especially if that person is unable to verbally communicate.” 

Such is the case of Houwers son, Joey. Hence, she made a bracelet for her son, which he always carries on him, that reads “Non-verbal, non-violent,” and has three different contact numbers on it in case he needs to get back home safe and be reunited with his mother. 

When on a call, police officers will be able to see on the database what medication the individuals take, their triggers and certain behaviors they may need to know about.

“When we are dealing with severe autistic children, when they are non-verbal, we don’t know who they are, they can’t really help us, so that’s when the database helps out,” Beck said. “It also helps when the family is going through a crisis, and they need us to respond out there.” 

The ultimate goal is to have every family in the city of Ocoee who has a family member eligible for the program to enroll. However, it’s been difficult for the department to get the word out and have all families enrolled in the program. 

“This would definitely benefit the families in Ocoee, because a lot of people (don’t know) that this is available,” Houwers said. “It makes you feel better to know that there are people out there that care and are looking out for our kids.”