BUFFALO, N.Y. — Erie County Sheriff John Garcia is the latest law enforcement leader to proactively launch the “Handle With Care” registry, a voluntary database for caregivers or families of a loved one with special needs.

"Be it autism, Down syndrome, any mental health issues, parents with dementia," said Garcia.

What You Need To Know

  •  Erie County's sheriff has recently launched the Handle With Care registry program 

  •  The program mirrors the one in Albany County established in 2023

  • The registry is a voluntary database for caregivers and families to share information about a loved one with special needs

Modeled after the one rolled out in the town of Colonie, Albany County, last year, the registry contains useful information to officers, so they can assess a situation on the way to responding to a crisis call.

"So when they get there, they know what will trigger you, they know what will calm you down [and] they know who to call," said Garcia. 

That's because the database also includes emergency contact numbers, like family and the person's doctor.

"That way, when we get there, it's resolved,” said Garcia. “Our 911 dispatchers will call the caregiver and say, ‘please return home, this is what's happening.’” 

The sheriff's office has partnered with the National Alliance on Mental Illness, or NAMI Buffalo and Western New York, to help get the word out.

"This is something that's going to save lives,” said Jeffrey Pirrone, executive director, NAMI Buffalo and Western New York. “It's going to protect the officers and it's going to make sure that the individual who's having this crisis, who's having this need, that they're going to eventually get home safely to their loved ones.”

Which is why Garcia encourages other police agencies to follow suit and create a database where people in their community can sign up as well.

"You want your loved one to be handled with care, you want your loved one to be safe and at the end of the day, a peaceful resolution,” said Garcia.