St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office offers three programs for families of loved ones who wander

The disappearance of a St. Augustine teenager with autism sparked a renewed conversation about programs the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office offers to help families whose loved ones wander.Benjamin Adcock, 16, has autism and schizophrenia. He wandered away from home and went missing for days before being found safe last week. At the end of an emotional press conference, Sheriff Hardwick made a commitment to connect the Adcock family with resources the department offers.“To actually... we found him... Oh goodness gracious okay... Praise the lord,” Hardwick said.News4JAX took a closer look at the three programs available to families.Project LifesaverThe newest of the three programs, Project Lifesaver, was implemented this year. Participants wear a bracelet or ankle band that emits a signal. Using a handheld transmitter, deputies can track down a missing person wearing the device — and the beeps get louder as they get closer.There are currently 34 participants enrolled in Project Lifesav