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Maryland

sl8

(16,128 posts) Sat Jun 22, 2024, 07:14 AM Jun 22

32

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

Highlight:

This police department's autism unit is saving lives (Original Post) sl8 Jun 22 OP

And hopefully it will save lives. no_hypocrisy Jun 22 #1

What is amazing is stuff like this! OldBaldy1701E Jun 22 #2

They are leaders in their field and hopefully will impress upon other departments the same procedures ColinC Jun 22 #5

This should be done in every city and state in America. lark Jun 22 #3

Perhaps eventually a federal law can be emplace to standardize this ColinC Jun 22 #6

This could be a national model dlk Jun 22 #4

Do you know if the percentage is actually increasing? Or is it just cause there's more people in general? ColinC Jun 22 #8

omfgg. (oh my bleep goodnes gracieus . most eggscllent. this is better to find out the heck what is going on rather than AllaN01Bear Jun 22 #7

no_hypocrisy

(47,935 posts)

1. And hopefully it will save lives.

Reply to sl8 (Original post)

Sat Jun 22, 2024, 07:29 AM

Jun 22

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

OldBaldy1701E

(5,718 posts)

2. What is amazing is stuff like this!

Reply to sl8 (Original post)

Sat Jun 22, 2024, 07:51 AM

Jun 22

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

ColinC

(9,714 posts)

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

Reply to OldBaldy1701E (Reply #2)

Sat Jun 22, 2024, 10:08 AM

Jun 22

lark

(23,745 posts)

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

Reply to sl8 (Original post)

Sat Jun 22, 2024, 08:37 AM

Jun 22

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

ColinC

(9,714 posts)

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

Reply to lark (Reply #3)

Sat Jun 22, 2024, 10:09 AM

Jun 22

dlk

(12,076 posts)

4. This could be a national model

Reply to sl8 (Original post)

Sat Jun 22, 2024, 09:20 AM

Jun 22

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

ColinC

(9,714 posts)

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

Reply to dlk (Reply #4)

Sat Jun 22, 2024, 10:37 AM

Jun 22

AllaN01Bear

(22,149 posts)

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

Reply to sl8 (Original post)

Sat Jun 22, 2024, 10:12 AM

Jun 22

shoot now and ask questions later.

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