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On a daily basis law enforcement officers encounter a multitude of individuals in emergency situations. Just as each emergency differs from the next, so does the individual involved, especially in regard to people with autism.

 

Law enforcement officers are trained to respond to a crisis situation with a certain protocol, but this protocol may not always be the best way to interact with people with autism.

 

 

Because law enforcement are usually the first to respond to an emergency, it is critical that they have a working knowledge of autism, and the wide variety of behaviors people with autism can exhibit in emergency situations.

 

Your Lee County Sheriff's Office Deputies, Jailers, and Dispatchers are provided with information and resources to effectively work with youth and citizens who live with autism.

 

For anyone seeking additional information on autism, the website www.autismspeaks.org is a very helpful resource.

 

 

 

Respectfully yours,

 

Garrett Durrenberger

Sheriff, Lee County