JEFFERSONTOWN, Ky. — The Jeffersontown Police Department (JPD) is dialing up its R.E.A.C.H program, which started about three years ago.
Officials are encouraging anyone with an old or unused phone to donate it for a good cause. What may be a forgotten phone in a drawer somewhere could be make a difference in someone's life.
Police said abuse comes in many forms but taking or monitoring someone's cell phone can lead to a dangerous situation.
The department's Community Resource Coordinator, Tina Pank, said if you don't need that old phone you can give it to a person who could use it. She said cell phones are an every day tool we use them for navigation, organization or emergencies.
"I recently had a situation where a person had their phone taken in an abuse situation," Pank said. "There then was another emergency that happened and they were able to contact 911. They were able to have first responders so there wasn't another dangerous incident that happened."
WHAS11 reached out to ZeroV: Kentucky United Against Violence for data in the Bluegrass State.
The organization said in 2023 member programs provided nearly 3,000 survivors and their children emergency shelter, and just over 12,000 survivors and their children with non-residential services like court advocacy, support groups and more.
"Monitoring a survivor's phone is a tactic an abusive partner can use to maintain control, keep a survivor isolated from a support system, or track where they are. Additionally, our cell phones store sensitive information like passwords and how we access accounts," ZeroV said in a statement. "There are many ways an abusive partner can track a survivor's digital activity. For a survivor, having a non-monitored cell phone allows them to seek support and safety."
"We are trying to help people through their court process through connecting to community resources," Pank said. "And when we're able to call them, or their community partners are able to call them then they're able to get what they're needing. We're able to see that every single time we've given a phone out."
Currently, Jeffersontown Police are surrounded by construction, but Pank said don't let it intimidate you from stopping by to donate. You can still walk along their old building and enter the new lobby where you can make the donation.
The old or unused phones are sent to 911 Cell Phone Bank, it's a company in Florida where they securely reset the device. According to the company, JPD is one of 1,500 agencies that have given over 250,000 emergency cell phones to vulnerable people across the country.
The police department will also accept tablets or broken phones. If the company can't fix it, then they sell the parts and send the profits back to the department.
If you wish to donate in person you're encouraged to stop by the police station between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.