On the morning of July 17, Chandler Police officers responded swiftly to a potentially life-threatening situation involving a non-verbal child found walking alone along Ocotillo Road.
Just minutes after the initial call came in at about 9:30 a.m. the department’s Real Time Operations Center (RTOC) staff located the 11-year-old on surveillance cameras and relayed the location to nearby officers.
Officer Kopp was among the first to make contact. When he realized the child was non-verbal, he continued following him down the street, gently trying to talk to him along the way.
Real Time Operations staff were quickly able to identify the child as his family had enrolled him in Chandler PD’s Return Me Safe program.
Return Me Safe is a voluntary registry that allows families to share critical information with police about loved ones who have cognitive or intellectual disabilities. The database includes photos, behavioral notes, and other essential information that helps officers respond with care and understanding, as they work to get those who have wandered away from their homes or caregivers, back home safely.
In this case, the child’s profile included guidance that he responded well to officers but was uncomfortable with physical contact. Respecting that, Officer Kopp walked calmly behind the child for nearly ten minutes, speaking kindly and offering snacks.
The child eventually stopped to rest at a nearby business, where his mother and caregiver soon arrived. relieved and grateful.
This heartwarming reunion is a powerful reminder of how proactive registration and police-community collaboration can save lives.
When every second counts, Return Me Safe helps bring your loved one home.
To register, visit: www.chandlerazpd.gov/Return-Me-Safe