09/23/2025
With autism in the news today, we’d like to highlight an important program from the San Mateo Police Department: Project Guardian.
Project Guardian is a free, voluntary, and confidential registry designed to help first responders when assisting community members who may be vulnerable, have special needs, or respond differently in emergencies.
✅ Caregivers, family members, or loved ones can provide key information and a photo so officers can recognize and respond appropriately.
✅ The program is available to San Mateo residents (or those who regularly visit). Families receive a decal for their home, letting officers know a registrant lives there.
✅ Participation is optional, but it can provide peace of mind and improve safety during critical moments.
👉 Learn more or register here: https://www.cityofsanmateo.org/4657/Project-Guardian
Let’s spread awareness so our neighbors who would benefit know about this resource. 💙
With autism being talked about this afternoon in the news, we are going to take this opportunity to remind our San Mateo community about Project Guardian.
The San Mateo Police Department acknowledges and understands that some members of our community may be vulnerable, have special needs, or react differently when contacted by emergency personnel or law enforcement officers. With those considerations in mind, a few years ago, SMPD created a vulnerable persons registry known as Project Guardian.
Project Guardian is a free, voluntary, and confidential database offered, managed, and maintained by the San Mateo Police Department. This registry will give us quick access to critical information about a registered person in the event of an emergency or call for service.
A caregiver, family member, or loved one of a vulnerable person can fill out a form online providing us with contact and identifying information, other pertinent info, and a photograph. The information provided is maintained in SMPD’s record management system and may be distributed to first responders in the event of an emergency.
We respect the right to privacy and will make every attempt to ensure that all personal information remains confidential, unless release of the information is required by law.
Not all persons diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, Autism Spectrum Disorder, developmental disabilities, intellectual disabilities, physical disabilities, or other medical conditions need to be registered in this registry. This registry is voluntary, and participation is welcome if a caregiver or loved one believes the registered person will benefit from sharing the information.
Our Project Guardian is specific to residents of San Mateo or those known to frequent our city. It is sometimes confused with the Sheriff's Office program of the same name. Once registered, a decal like the picture below will be sent to the residence. We encourage you place this decal near the front door so our officers recognize that a registrant of Project Guardian resides there.
For more information on this program, visit https://www.cityofsanmateo.org/4657/Project-Guardian.
