A sad discovery has caused the Rupert Police Department to implement a new town program.
According to Rupert Police Chief Chuck Burkhamer, he recently responded to a welfare check that ultimately resulted in the discovery of an unattended death.
In Rupert, there are people who live alone, Burkhamer noted. Some of those people are elderly or handicapped and may not have any close family to check on them.
So, to prevent something like this from happening in the future, Burkhamer and his team put together a program that will allow families, and those who live alone, to receive check-ins by members of the police department.
Anyone who would like to be included in this new program simply has to come to Rupert Town Hall and fill out a contact information sheet. For those who cannot make it to town hall, they may call Burkhamer at 304-392-5682, and ask to be placed on the check-in list.
Once a person is on that list, Burkhamer said that he and his officers will stop by, or call, on a regular basis just to make sure everything is going okay. If a person ever wishes to be taken off the list, all they have to do is call and cancel.
“We want to do more for the elderly and handicapped in the community,” Burkhamer said. “Maybe we can prevent something, like a heart attack, from taking a person’s life.”
He said he really hopes that Rupert residents will take advantage of this program, especially now that the weather is getting colder.
“Just let us know you need help,” he concluded.
