Beltrami County Sheriff's Office awarded $2000 Grant for Project Lifesaver

The Minnesota Office of Justice Programs, a division of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, has awarded the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office a $2000 program sustainment grant for Project Lifesaver. In 2016 the Minnesota Legislature allocated $78,000 for Minnesota Life Saver Grant, $39,000 each for fiscal years 2016 and 2017. Eligible law enforcement agencies could apply for a $4000 program start up grant or a $2000 grant for those agencies currently operating a project lifesaver program.

The Project Lifesaver program places personalized radio transmitters on identified persons. Transmitters will assist caregivers and the Sheriff’s Office in locating those who cannot help themselves. When properly used and maintained they can result in an average rescue time of 30 minutes.

Project Lifesaver has over 1,400 participating member agencies throughout 48 states in the U.S., six provinces in Canada, and Australia, and has performed 3,000 searches over the last 16 years with no serious injuries or fatalities ever reported. Project Lifesaver provides equipment, training, certification and support to law enforcement, public safety organizations and community groups throughout the country and nation.

Project Lifesaver International provides in-depth training for law enforcement and other public safety agencies on the use of specialized electronic search and rescue equipment, technology and procedures, as well as teaching rescuers how to communicate with people afflicted with cognitive conditions, all of which are essential to the successful rescue of missing persons who wander or otherwise become lost.

“The Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office Project Lifesaver Program has really been accepted by the community”, said Chief Deputy Sheriff Ernie Beitel. “Today we are servicing over 20 clients in our community since the start of our program last June. Support from the community has been tremendous with a number of private donations and several local public service organizations sponsoring fund raising events for Project Lifesaver. All of the donations and grants have and will continue to be used to help defer the costs associated with the purchase of transmitters, bands and batteries for current and future participants. In 2016, I hope to have more of our Deputies trained and equipped with this lifesaving equipment.”

For more information you may contact Chief Deputy Ernie Beitel at 218-333-4136 or by visiting the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office webpage at http://www.co.beltrami.mn.us, click on the law enforcement heading and then click on Project Lifesaver.