April is Autism Awareness Month, and the City and the Golden Valley Police Department (GVPD) encourage community members to sign up for Smart911 to help first responders provide better service to those who may need it.
Smart911 allows you to provide key medical and other personal information well before emergencies occur. When making an emergency call with a registered phone number, your personal profile is automatically displayed to the 911 call-taker, allowing dispatch to send the right response teams to the right location with the right information. Profiles can include:
- emergency contact information
- medical history, including medications, medical equipment, and medical conditions

- property layouts, access points, and utility information
- number of people and pets on the property, and more
This month GVPD officers are wearing special patches to increase public awareness and acceptance of those with autism spectrum disorder.
“The puzzle piece has become an international symbol of autism awareness since its adoption by the National Autistic Society in 1963,” said Golden Valley Police Chief Virgil Green. “Since then, it has become a widely recognized symbol for advocacy and support for those affected by autism spectrum disorder.”
Smart911 is available in all 50 states and in more than 3,500 municipalities across the country. Registration can be done online at smart911.com or via the Smart911 mobile app.
For more information about community health in Golden Valley, visit the City website.