Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, Ocean County Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy and Ocean County Police Chiefs Association President Michael DiBella are proud to announce the launch of the Ocean County Special Needs Registry. Effective March 1, 2022, the Ocean County Special Needs Registry will be available to all citizens with special needs who reside, attend school or are employed in Ocean County. The goal of the Special Needs Registry is to ensure all Ocean County residents who may be in need of special assistance are able to get the help and support they need in a time of emergency or during interaction with Law Enforcement, Fire or EMS personnel.
Through the website, which can be found at www.OCSNRNJ.com, Ocean County residents will be able to register themselves or any family members living in their home who may have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities due to a physical and/or intellectual disability. The registry will provide first responders with vital information regarding a registrant’s special needs, emergency contact information, physical description, and current photograph. Information provided through registration is confidential and will only be shared with law enforcement and first responders during an emergency or for the purpose of planning an emergency response.
Each registrant will be provided with two window decals that can be placed on the front entrance of the registrant’s residence as well as on the window of any vehicle in which they regularly travel. The presence of the OCSNR decal signifies to first responders that someone in the residence or vehicle has some degree of special need and that they should respond accordingly. The use of the decals is voluntary.
The Ocean County Special Needs Registry is a collaborative effort between the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office and the Ocean County Police Chiefs Association. Special thanks to the Ocean County Board of Commissioners and the Ocean County Office of Information and Technology for their collective assistance and support for this initiative.
“This collaborative effort is designed to assist our law enforcement officers and first responders with critical knowledge regarding impending interaction with citizens of the communities they serve. The more our officers and first responders know on their way to a call or on a motor vehicle stop the higher the likelihood is of a more positive interaction – for the officer and for the citizen,” Prosecutor Billhimer stated.
“The Ocean County Sheriff’s Office thanks the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office for initiating this program to protect those who might be most vulnerable in our county. The Prosecutors Office, Sheriff’s Office and Ocean County Police Chiefs will continue to work together and are committed to protecting all our residents,” Sheriff Mastronardy added.
“On behalf of the Ocean County Police Chiefs Association, I would like to thank everyone, including, but not limited to, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, Ocean County Sheriff Michael Mastronardy, and Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Sergeant Melissa Rose for all their hard work and dedication in making this Special Needs Program come to fruition. As a representative for the Ocean County Police Chiefs Association, I can assure you this program will lead to more positive interactions for both our respective communities and staffs, allow us to increase public relations and community policing, and provide the best service possible to those individuals with special needs. As law enforcement officers in Ocean County, we have a passion to serve everyone with the utmost respect and professionalism and we certainly look forward to being a part of this new program,” Chief Dibella concluded.