Vulnerable Persons Registry

The Vulnerable Person Registry is a service offered by the Greater Sudbury Police Service for individuals who have a physical, mental health, cognitive, or medical condition that may require special attention during an emergency. The information provided is used only by first responders to help support you or your loved one in a crisis.

When registering a vulnerable person, please provide:

• Name and date of birth
• Physical descriptors
• Contact information
• Special needs
• Suggested methods of approach
• Possible objects of attraction
• A recent photograph

A Vulnerable Person is someone who, due to a medical condition, mental‑health diagnosis, physical disability, or cognitive or developmental disability, may display behaviours that could place themselves or others at risk.

This may include:

• A tendency to wander
• Difficulty communicating
• Specific fascinations or attractions (such as water or construction sites)
• Distinct social responses, including fear of strangers or aggression

In an emergency, the self‑registry is accessed only when a vulnerable person is in danger or distress. The information is used solely to help the individual.

The Greater Sudbury Police Service, Sudbury Fire Services, and Sudbury Paramedic Services have access to the registry. All information is securely stored by the Greater Sudbury Police Service.

The Greater Sudbury Police Service is proud to partner with Project Lifesaver® International (PLI) to support rapid search efforts for vulnerable adults and children who wander due to neurocognitive, intellectual, or developmental disabilities. The program aims to quickly locate missing persons using specialized technology and to provide peace of mind for caregivers managing wandering behaviours.

Project Lifesaver enhances our coordinated service model by enabling timely responses that help save lives and reduce the risk of injury.

The program provides transmitters, wristbands, and batteries to individuals at risk of wandering. Once enrolled, a member of the Greater Sudbury Police Service or a Project Lifesaver partner will schedule an appointment to attach the wristband device and train the caregiver on how the equipment works.