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WKEF-TV ABC 22 News :: News - Top Stories - Kettering Police Launch Unique Safety Program
Wednesday, January 16 2013, 08:16 AM EST
Kettering Police Launch Unique Safety Program
KETTERING -- Ten years ago, on January 10, 2003, Robert Westgarber was in a fatal car accident. The dementia patient should not have been driving.

"My father woke up early in the morning and he used to go to Town and Country Shopping Center and walk. My mother couldn't convince him that it was not 10 o'clock in the morning because he was suffering from the onset of dementia, so she thought he will go to Town and Country, he'll see that it's closed and then he'll come back home. Somewhere on the trip back he got disoriented," said daughter Jeanne McKinnon.

Patrolman Edward Drayton responded to the call. He says this one death inspired him to start the Kettering Safe Senior Program.
The program will provide security during times of emergency  to Kettering residents living with Alzheimer's and dementia.  Participants' information will be included in a secured database so emergency crews can access it in a time of need. 

"If they had a record of him they would have had his car, his plate on his car, a picture of him," said McKinnon. "The officer did see the truck but yet no reason to stop it because he wasn't doing anything illegal. They may have stopped it then and gotten him home."

"What I'm hoping is that people hear this story, they hear about this program and want to make a copy cat program and save more lives," said Drayton.

Another feature of the Kettering Safe Senior Program are the lock boxes. Participants can choose to have them in an inconspicuous part of their home. Kettering Police Department will have the code and that way they can get into the home without having to break down the door.

"A lot of the seniors on a tight budget and we don't want to have to bust on the doors they want to stay in their homes and we want to help them stay in their homes," said Drayton.

Westgarber's daughter says had this program been in place 10 years ago, she might still have her father.

"I hope with this program another family won't have to lose a parent because of this," she said.

KSSP is a free and voluntary program. 

The program will also help residents 65 years of age and older with an incapacitating medical condition.  Adults and juveniles living with developmental disabilities such as Down syndrome and autism will also be encouraged to participate.


Connect with ABC 22/FOX 45 Reporter Wale Aliyu on Facebook and Twitter.Kettering Police Launch Unique Safety Program

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