Calling in for comfort

The Surprise police call Shirley Luke every morning.

But instead of being a cause for concern, it's a reassurance.

Luke, 76, participates in the RUOK, or Are You OK?, telephone program in which a computer-generated phone call is placed each morning to check on her. She is visually impaired and said the service benefits her and eases the minds of her children.

"It's very comforting to me," Luke said. "I tell everybody about it."

Officer Chris Tovar, who is in charge of the program, said Surprise police have offered the free service for about three years. It has about a dozen subscribers, but the department would like residents who could benefit from the service to be aware it is available.

The $3,500 computer system was purchased with funds primarily from the Surprise Rotary Club and with donations from Target and Pier 1 Imports.

Tovar said Surprise residents interested in participating must go through a screening process, including a home interview.

"Basically, it's for homebound persons and a lot are seniors," Tovar said. "They could even be (a young person) who is homebound or has medical issues, if they feel more comfortable with a phone call coming in to them."

Tovar said the RUOK system calls each participant at an agreed-upon time. Should the person fail to answer, the police department dispatches its citizen patrol to perform a welfare check.

Luke decided to begin the service after she was in an accident four years ago. Her children live in Prescott and California, so having them check on her isn't always practical.

Though Luke has not had an emergency that prevented her from answering her phone, an off-the-hook phone recently was cause to have the citizen patrol pay her a visit. The patrol verified she was all right, and pointed out some safety issues that needed to be corrected.

"They tucked me in," Luke said. "It was very nice."

For information, call the Surprise police crime prevention unit at 623-222-4140.

Joy Slagowski may be reached at 623-876-2514 or jslagowski@yourwestvalley.com.