A new Senior Watch Program is under way in Perrysburg Township, led by the police department.

Patrolman Dave Molter previously worked in Danbury Township, which had a Senior Watch Program. After coming to Perrysburg Township in May, 2008, he decided it would be a good idea to start the same program.

The police department periodically receives requests from loved ones of senior citizens who haven't heard from their relatives and want a police officer to go to the senior's home to make sure that the person is all right.

This sparked the idea of putting the program in place to check on senior citizens who live alone or who are far away from their families, without loved ones to check up on them regularly.

Sgt. Monica Gottfried, also a contact person for the program, said she believes it will be a great asset to the community.

"In my 15 years of law enforcement, there unfortunately have been several calls where a senior citizen passes away alone if they've fallen or had a heart attack, or something where no one was there to check on them and they were alone in that situation," Sergeant Gottfried said.

"Hopefully this program will help to prevent situations like that from happening."

Police officers will do drive-by checks once a day on senior citizens who participate in the program, looking over the premises and making sure that the person in the home appears to be safe.

"It gives families some peace of mind, and we get to meet some of our senior citizens that we may not usually come in contact with," Mr. Molter said.

Senior citizens who live alone are at a greater risk for harm or being burglarized, he said.

That is part of the reason the major details of the program are kept confidential except to those interested in the program, Patrolman Molter said.

"We give [the senior citizens] the details if they choose to participate, and explain what [the policemen] will be doing," Patrolman Molter said.

Those who participate in the program will always know when to expect the officers to check up on them.

There is no limit to how many senior citizens can participate.

Sergeant Gottfried said she believes the program will be permanent as long as there is participation.

"It's a very simple program for us to run," she said. "It doesn't take much manpower, time, or money."

More information on the program and how to participate can be obtained by calling the police nonemergency number to contact Sergeant Gottfried or Patrolman Molter at 419-874-3551.

Contact Payton Willey at: paytonwilley@theblade.com or 419-724-6065.