Officer's odd feeling on routine ‘Roll Call’ pushed him to check on an 87-year-old—he wasn't ready for the discovery
An initiative taken out of goodwill and followed earnestly can yield amazing results. Sometimes, these results can be life-saving too. The New Castle County Police initiated the “Senior Roll Call Lifeline” to provide support for the elderly and ensure there’s someone to check on them, FOX 29 reported. This seemingly ordinary call became life-saving when Master Corporal Andy Daller made a call to an 87-year-old. Something pushed him to check on the woman, and he gave in to his gut feeling and sent officers to drop by. To his surprise, the check-in turned into a timely intervention. Sharing in a post on Facebook, the department is now more confident of the initiative’s benefits.
Sharing more about the Senior Roll Call Lifeline, the post revealed that it started back in 1995. “The Senior Roll Call Lifeline is a complimentary service offered by the New Castle County Police that calls its members' homes daily to check on their well-being and ensure they do not need emergency assistance,” the post read. It has been proven to be a boon to many senior citizens and has also saved the lives of a few in past instances. Corporal Daller, who oversees the automated messages, sends them out between 7 am and 10 am every day to around 200 residents. He tries to customize the messages based on different days, holidays and so on and oversees the responses received.
"It’s interesting to listen to their reactions," he noted. An 86-year-old man named James Price Sr. commended the service and said, "I thank God for the phone call. I’m grateful for that, because if I got sick, then they would come help me.” Noting how it “makes a big difference” in the lives of seniors. Price was grateful that other elderly people had access to the calls. If a member doesn’t respond, Corporal Daller conducts a welfare check. "Unfortunately, I guess, or fortunately, you always assume the worst. So, that’s why I don’t usually hesitate to send the police out if I get a feeling about something,” he explained. A similar situation took place when he dialed the elderly woman from Brandywine Hundred.
Despite multiple attempts to call the woman, there was no response. Corporal Daller quickly felt a hunch to check on her. He sent the welfare team to her home and right enough, they arrived at something worrisome. Turns out, the woman had mobility issues and was stuck outside her home. “Officers from the New Castle County Division of Police arrived at her residence and found her conscious and alert, sitting on a chair in the enclosed rear porch but unable to stand,” the post revealed. She had reportedly been there since 3 pm the previous day and remained outside overnight with no food or water.
Thanks to the call, they were able to check on her and provide timely intervention before things got worse. The woman was transported to a hospital and received necessary treatment. "She’s home now and she’s back, and she’s okay, so it worked," Corporal Daller remarked. The department urges senior citizens to enroll in the free programme to get access to emergency help during unprecedented situations.