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sl8

(16,245 posts)
Sat Jun 22, 2024, 06:14 AM Jun 2024

This police department's autism unit is saving lives

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.

[...]

8 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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no_hypocrisy

(48,778 posts)
1. And hopefully it will save lives.
Sat Jun 22, 2024, 06:29 AM
Jun 2024

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

OldBaldy1701E

(6,338 posts)
2. What is amazing is stuff like this!
Sat Jun 22, 2024, 06:51 AM
Jun 2024

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

ColinC

(10,666 posts)
5. They are leaders in their field and hopefully will impress upon other departments the same procedures
Sat Jun 22, 2024, 09:08 AM
Jun 2024

lark

(24,149 posts)
3. This should be done in every city and state in America.
Sat Jun 22, 2024, 07:37 AM
Jun 2024

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

dlk

(12,355 posts)
4. This could be a national model
Sat Jun 22, 2024, 08:20 AM
Jun 2024

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

ColinC

(10,666 posts)
8. Do you know if the percentage is actually increasing? Or is it just cause there's more people in general?
Sat Jun 22, 2024, 09:37 AM
Jun 2024

AllaN01Bear

(23,039 posts)
7. omfgg. (oh my bleep goodnes gracieus . most eggscllent. this is better to find out the heck what is going on rather than
Sat Jun 22, 2024, 09:12 AM
Jun 2024

shoot now and ask questions later.

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