Schenectady, NY – Oct. 6, 2026 – With Halloween approaching, Patrolfinder is encouraging police departments across the country to use technology, visibility and community engagement to help keep children safe. 

For several years, Transfinder, the company behind the patented Patrolfinder logistics technology, has worked with local police and fire departments to map and track pre-Halloween community events, allowing residents to follow the routes of decorated police cars and fire trucks in real time and see when they are expected to arrive at designated stops. The solution has been dubbed "Treatfinder" by police. 

The events, typically held a week before Halloween, provide the first responders with an opportunity to connect with children and families in their communities while reinforcing important Halloween safety messages. 

At stops throughout the community, officers and firefighters have distributed high visibility trick-or-treat bags, candy, coloring books and other safety items while offering children and parents tips for a safe Halloween. Parents and guardians are encouraged to accompany children and use the events as an opportunity to reinforce basic safety practices. 

The Schenectady Police and Fire departments have held their annual Scare-nectady Haunted Patrol for several years. The event combines the excitement of Halloween with an opportunity for first responders to interact with families outside of traditional emergency situations. In 2024, the last year the event was held, more than 1,000 children came out to see the police cars and fire trucks. 

Transfinder President and CEO Antonio Civitella said Schenectady's Scare-nectady Haunted Patrol provides an example of how police and fire departments can combine community policing, technology and Halloween safety outreach. He said he wanted to share a model that police departments throughout the United States could follow.  

“Halloween should be a fun and safe time for children,” Civitella said. “We all have fond memories of going door to door and knowing which house gives out the best candy. At the same time, Halloween presents an opportunity for police officers to connect with children and families and reinforce some simple safety precautions. We’ve seen firsthand how these events can bring a community together, and we wanted to share that experience with departments across the country.” 

Among the safety recommendations police departments can reinforce with children and families are: 

• Stay with an adult or trusted group while trick-or-treating. 
• Use sidewalks and crosswalks whenever possible and look both ways before crossing streets. 
• Carry a flashlight and use reflective materials to remain visible to drivers. 
• Make sure costumes do not obstruct vision or create a tripping hazard. 
• Inspect candy and treats before children eat them. 
• Know the route and establish a designated meeting place in case family members become separated. 
• Encourage children to follow directions from police officers, info and other public safety personnel.

The initiative has received media attention. 

Examples of coverage:

• “2024 SCARE-nectady haunted patrol coming Thursday” – NEWS10 coverage
• “Transfinder to help track Scare-nectady patrol” – WNYT coverage 

To learn more, email getpatrolfinder@patrolfinder.com and put Haunted in the subject line.

“We want this to be a fun memory for kids,” Civitella said. “And we know the first responders will have fun too.” 

About Patrolfinder
Patrolfinder is an advanced patrol management and patrol intelligence platform designed to close information gaps, improve coverage and enhance officer safety. With real-time officer tracking, patrol analytics, shift-handoff reporting and map-based intelligence, Patrolfinder gives officers and supervisors greater visibility across their jurisdictions for faster, smarter decision-making. 

Built for data-driven policing, Patrolfinder helps departments identify under-patrolled areas, monitor activity and improve responses to calls for service. From small departments to large agencies, Patrolfinder adapts to operational needs while supporting strategic resource deployment, transparency and more efficient, effective patrols. 

For more information, visit https://patrolfinder.com/.