SBPD making new IDs for at-risk adults

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- A new identification card is about to help with safety in Santa Barbara. The Santa Barbara Police Department is preparing to launch a new ID card aimed at helping adults at-risk.

Ruth Marshall is 79 years old and lives with her dog named Star. “I go out every day and we have fun, but we generally don’t know where we are.”

She said they have to guess where they're going when it's time to head home. “We know that the trees are around and the sky is blue and the air is fresh. That’s important,” said Marshall.

And knowing where she needed to go would help, “The practical matters like where I live and things," said Marshall, "yeah that would be nice for them to know and for me to know.”

The "them" Ruth is talking about is Santa Barbara police. This month the department will issue new ID cards to adults with health conditions like dementia, who may get disoriented in public, or epilepsy, which could cause them to have a seizure on the street.

Dale Kunkel is a volunteer with SBPD. He said, “Three or four weekends every month. I’ve been involved in numerous searches for at-risk missing individuals, even succeeded in finding one in the creek on the east side of town.”

Police said the ID card would have the person’s contact information and medical conditions on the card for them to wear around their neck. And police will have similar information plus a picture of the individual in a secure database.

“We want to provide every benefit we can in terms of finding those people and getting them in a safe environment,” said Kunkel.

For Marshall and Star, it would give them more confidence on their Sunday strolls and reassurance that her dog will keep smiling.

“He has a godfather," said Marshall. "And I would want to put his name on there in case something were to happen to me, they could take my dog to his next owner. That’s the most important thing.”

On March 11th, SBPD will start enrolling Santa Barbara residents into the program. The program is aimed at adults who might have medical conditions and are prone to getting lost, disoriented, having seizures or passing out.

The physical ID card would help the public assist a lost person, or someone who might be having a seizure or has fainted, get the help they need quickly.

Those who wish to register and cannot attend March 11th's event can set an appointment by emailing SBPD volunteer Dale Kunkel at: dkunkel@sbpd.com