Project Lifesaver

In March of 2017, the Polk County Sheriff's Office and Polk County Mounted Posse implemented Project LifeSaver LLC. in rural Polk County. This effort compliments The East Grand Forks Police Department who has also implemented the program for their residents. The primary mission of Project Lifesaver is to provide timely response to save lives and reduce potential injury for adults and children who wander due to: 

• Alzheimer's
• Autism
• Dementia
• Down Syndrome
• Other Cognitive Issues

How It Works

Citizens enrolled in Project Lifesaver wear a small personal transmitter around the wrist or ankle that emits an individualized location signal. If an enrolled client goes missing, the caregiver notifies their local Project Lifesaver agency, and a trained emergency team responds to the wanderer's area. Most who wander are found within a few miles from home.

Project Lifesaver has over 1,400 participating member agencies throughout 48 states in the U.S. along with participants in six providences in Canada and Australia. Project lifesaver has performed 3,000 searches over the last 16 years with no serious injuries or fatalities reported.

Sign Up

To sign up with Project Lifesaver the client must be:

• Enrolled with Social Services in Polk County or obtain a doctor's prescription
• Have 24 hours, 7 days a week caregiver and no access to a vehicle

Additional Information

For more information please contact Jill Potucek or Sergeant Mike Norland at 218-470-0431.