This police department's autism unit is saving lives

[sl8]

https://www.npr.org/2024/06/21/nx-s1-5014136/this-police-departments-autism-unit-is-saving-lives
(4 min. audio, transcript, at link)

This police department's autism unit is saving lives

JUNE 21, 2024 5:55 PM ET
HEARD ON ALL THINGS CONSIDERED
By Jordan-Marie Smith, Katia Riddle, Mary Louise Kelly

Montgomery County Police Department Officer Laurie Reyes speaks with NPR about the autism and dementia unit that is saving lives and helping families in Maryland.

MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST:

Family members of people with profound autism or dementia face unique caregiving challenges. One of them is a concern their loved one will get lost. When a person with autism wanders away from their caregiver or their home, there can be dire - even deadly - consequences. Well, that did not happen to the six people who eloped, as it's sometimes called, this past Tuesday in Montgomery County, Md., and that is thanks to a unique program with the Montgomery County Police Department. It's the brainchild of officer Laurie Reyes, and she joins me now.

LAURIE REYES: Hi. Hi there. Thanks for having me.

[...]

[no_hypocrisy]

1. And hopefully it will save lives.

Too many situations where police have used deadly force against those with autism who are out of control and can't communicate.

[OldBaldy1701E]

2. What is amazing is stuff like this!

What is horrifying is that this department is the exception and not the norm.

[ColinC]

5. They are leaders in their field and hopefully will impress upon other departments the same procedures

[lark]

3. This should be done in every city and state in America.

That's it's not being done just shows how callous and uncaring most state institutions are to it's marginalized population.

[ColinC]

6. Perhaps eventually a federal law can be emplace to standardize this

[dlk]

4. This could be a national model

With the ever increasing numbers of births on the spectrum, this is a service for our time.

[ColinC]

8. Do you know if the percentage is actually increasing? Or is it just cause there's more people in general?

[AllaN01Bear]

7. omfgg. (oh my bleep goodnes gracieus . most eggscllent. this is better to find out the heck what is going on rather than

shoot now and ask questions later.