LASD “Special Alert” helps with special needs family members

Residents with special needs family members now have a way to voluntarily provide information in advance of a potential crisis call to the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department that will help responding Deputy Sheriffs in Lakewood and other LASD service areas determine what approach and resources may be needed.  

Calls for help for family members presumed to have or diagnosed with an intellectual, mental or physical disability are often made when those with disabilities and their caregivers are in crisis.

In an effort to better serve and understand the needs of these community members, LASD offers caregivers or other family requestors the option to voluntarily provide information in advance about persons with special needs living in their home. 

If you choose to participate, you can complete the online Special Alert Request form, or download the form and take it to Lakewood Sheriff’s Station in person. LASD will enter the information as a “Special Alert” in its computer dispatch system to provide to Deputy Sheriffs responding to a crisis call at your address in the future. See sidebar for links to the forms.

This information will not be used to enforce laws against you or your loved ones. By providing this information in advance, you are alerting Deputies to the needs of the people in your home who are believed to have or have been diagnosed with an intellectual, mental or physical disability, which may help Deputies decide how to best approach and what resources to bring with them. If needed and available, those resources may include a co-response with trained mental health support professionals who specialize in such situations.

Watch the LASD video to learn more