Law Enforcement Autism Awareness Program Launched at Alcona County Sheriff’s Office
Started in 2019 by Sheriff Michael Bitnar of Chippewa County, the Law Enforcement Autism Awareness Program is a training regimen that teaches departments how to better handle interactions with people with autism or other special needs.
The Alcona County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Alcona County Victim Services Unit, has begun to implement that training in their department.
“What it is, is a couple of decals you can put in your house and in your car, and that way, when you’re contacted by law enforcement, we know that there may be somebody with autism or other special needs in that vehicle or in the house so that we can act appropriately and know that the person there is going to act a little bit differently than the average person would,” said Alcona County Sheriff Scott Stephenson.
Handling a situation with a person who has autism or another special need can be difficult. Having the decals in the house or on the vehicle can help the officer involved understand what they’re going into.
“Since they’re seven times more likely to contact police, that’s why I think it’s important we get on board with something like this and have some extra training so that we have a better chance of positive outcomes when we have encounters with these folks,” said Stephenson.
Alcona is only the second county in the state to implement the program, and word of mouth is already spreading. They are hoping they are just the beginning.
“We’re really hoping that this might help trigger some other areas to implement it too,” said Alcona County Victim Services Unit coordinator Candy Fulsher. “It would be nice if people living in our county with the stickers on, if they go into another county and maybe have to interact with somebody in law enforcement down there that they would also understand what the program is.”
The Alcona County Sheriff’s Office has already begun to implement the training, and they are looking to expand into the fire department and EMS as well.
