R.U.O.K. Program
Dear Fellow Citizen,
The City of Gulfport and the Gulfport Police Department are very excited about a public service that is available for the Senior Citizens of our City. The name of the service is R.U.O.K.
The R.U.O.K. is a computer-generated telephone dialing system. The computer calls each enrolled senior citizen on a daily basis to check on their welfare at whatever time they choose. If they fail to answer the telephone after two (2) attempts or after it receives four (4) busy signals, a police dispatcher is warned by a computer signal. The dispatcher then sends a police officer to check on the person.
The Gulfport Police Department is proud to have been the first agency in the State of Mississippi and in the Southeastern United States to offer this much needed service to our citizens. If you or someone you know would like to enroll in the R.U.O.K. Program, please call the Gulfport Police Department Community Relations Division at (228)868-5824. Our staff will be available to answer any questions you may have.
Sincerely,
Alan Weatherford
Chief of Police
R.U.O.K. – A Unique System
R.U.O.K. is a unique computer generated dialing system created by Northland Innovations owner Mr. Bruce Johnson. The computer calls each enrolled senior citizen on a daily basis to check on their welfare – at whatever time they choose. If they fail to answer the phone after two tries, or after it receives four busy signals, the dispatcher sends a patrol unit out to check on the person.
When an “alert” is issued, the computer sounds an alarm and flashes “ALERT” across the monitor. It then prints out a data sheet which gives the dispatcher information such as the name of the key holder, or who to contact in case of an emergency, e.g., clergy, next of kin, etc. It also lets the responding officer know whether there are any dangerous pets on the premises, and if the subscriber has any special medical problems.
At the end of a day’s calling, the computer prints out a log of the day’s activities. This lists the total number of calls initiated, no answers, busy signals, and alerts issued for the day. After this data is printed, the system gives a total breakdown of each call made including the phone number called, the exact time – in seconds – that the call was initiated and the status of the call. The report is very helpful in alleviating any concerns about forgetting to call someone.
The program also provides the option of a standard message or one specifically designed for unusual situations. The standard message played to the subscriber answering the telephone is a simple “Hello, this is the Gulfport Police Department, Are you O.K.? If you’re not O.K., hang up your phone and dial 911, If you are O.K., simply hang up your phone. Have a nice day.” If we are having special problems on any given day, such as extreme heat or cold, hurricane warnings, etc., we can easily change the message to either request information or give out advice.
The time of day to call a person can also be changed easily within the program. The system also features a “vacation dates – no call.” This stops the computer from calling specific individuals for the days that they will not be at home. This avoids tying up the system with unnecessary alerts. Citizens may change their call time or notify our agency of vacation dates by calling the Gulfport Police Communications Division at (228)868-5959.
“Helping Build a Safer Gulfport Together”
The R.U.O.K. computer system has been a tremendous asset to citizens of the City of Gulfport for over thirteen years. The R.U.O.K. Program presently has many subscribers. The program is a key element in the Gulfport Police Department’s “Helping Build a Safer Gulfport Together” role throughout the community. As a result of a partnership with the Long Beach Police Department, Pass Christian Police Department, and the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department, the Gulfport Police Department is proud to provide this service to citizens of Gulfport, Long Beach, Pass Christian, and Harrison County at no cost to the subscriber. The R.U.O.K. Program is a success because of the partnership between Mississippi Gulf Coast Law Enforcement Agencies.
We urge those citizens who believe they need this service to contact the Gulfport Police Department Community Relations Division. Our staff will be glad to take your application and answer any questions you may have regarding R.U.O.K. Residents of Biloxi may enroll with the Biloxi Police Department R.U.O.K. Program at (228)435-6156.
Residents of Gulfport, Long Beach, Pass Christian, and Harrison County may contact the Gulfport Police Department Community Relations Division at (228)868-5824 or (228)868-5703 to sign up for this invaluable service.
Back to Crime Prevention