The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with ElderSource, has launched a program aimed at helping locate adults prone to wandering, such as those with Alzheimer's or dementia. The initiative, called The Pepper Project, is supported by funding from ElderSource and includes the introduction of K9 Pepper, a bloodhound trained to track missing individuals. The program also offers scent preservation kits, enabling families to prepare in advance for emergencies by preserving the scent of someone who might go missing.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is urging residents to register at-risk loved ones in the new Registry for Endangered, Vulnerable, and Missing Persons (R.E.V.A.M.P.), according to a recent Facebook post. The registry provides first responders with vital information to help quickly locate individuals who may wander or go missing. “If you have a loved one who may be at risk of wandering, register them with the Registry for Endangered, Vulnerable, and Missing Persons (R.E.V.A.M.P.),” the post states.
The program emphasizes the importance of being prepared for such an event, and strongly advises the community to "REMEMBER: If a loved one goes missing, call 911 immediately." It further instructs the public to start their search only after notifying authorities, highlighting that "every second counts." The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office's message is clear: in the case that the missing person is found before responders arrive, they'll simply call off the search, ensuring no time is wasted in reunification efforts.
The Pepper Project illustrates local law enforcement collaborating with a community organization to address a critical issue faced by many families. By providing a K9 trained to track missing persons and offering scent preservation kits to help prepare for emergencies, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is enhancing its ability to locate individuals quickly and efficiently.
