The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) and Project Lifesaver International will for the first time recognize an officer who has gone “above and beyond” to come to the aid of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and other disorders who have been missing or face the risk of wandering in the future.

The nominee must be affiliated with a sheriff’s office, police department, or public safety agency that utilizes Project Lifesaver’s proven radio technology to quickly locate wanderers. Currently, Project Lifesaver has 450 member organizations in the U.S., Canada, and several foreign countries. These organizations are also member organizations of the AFA.

AFA and Project Lifesaver will annually present this honor, called the Distinguished Service Award, to an officer who has gone “above and beyond to promote Project Lifesaver, to executive successful searches, and to educate the public about Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.”

The organizations will bestow the 2005 award at AFA’s annual cocktail reception in New York City on November 1. The winner and a guest will be flown to New York for the event and will also enjoy a two-night hotel say, a Broadway show, dinner, and $1,000 in cash.

“Officers involved in Project Lifesaver are true heroes in their communities. Their presence brings peace of mind to families, and their rescue efforts are nothing short of miraculous,” said Eric J. Hall, AFA’s chief executive officer.

Clients wear wristband transmitters that, using FM radio frequencies and 30-day batteries, emit a continuous signal 24 hours a day. Public safety and law enforcement teams use specialized tracking devices that can receive the signals from a mile away on the ground to five miles by air. The average response time is less than 30 minutes, versus other search operations that can last for days.

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America is a New York-based nonprofit organization that focuses on “together for care…in addition to cure” for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related illnesses, and their families, and unites member organizations from coast to coast that provide education and hands-on social services. Its services include a toll-free hotline, educational materials and conferences, professional training and a free caregiver magazine. For information, call 866-AFA-8484 or visit www.alzfdn.org.

Project Lifesaver International, Chesapeake, VA, is a nonprofit organization that utilizes a radio technology rapid response program to effectively locate missing individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, Down syndrome, Autism and related disorders. For information, call 757-546-5502 or visit www.projectlifesaver.org.