Listen to this note:
At the end of this month, agents of the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office and frontline staff will receive training on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) from a renowned psychologist at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital.
The training, which is part of the hospital's Autism Program, is led by Dr. Lauren Gardner, an expert in the field.
The interactive training is designed to increase law enforcement personnel's knowledge and awareness of ASD through realistic scenarios.
The intention is that, after training, deputies and staff of the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office will know how to better interact and communicate with people with autism in both crisis and non-escalated situations.
Officials detailed in a statement that the training will lead to better outcomes, including greater community preparedness and engagement, ultimately contributing to a safer San Mateo County.
According to Johns Hopkins All Children's, autism is a neurodevelopmental disability caused by differences in the brain. People with autism may behave, communicate, interact and learn differently from others.
After observing negative interactions across the country between law enforcement and people on the spectrum, shortly after taking office in 2023, Sheriff Christina Corpus set out to find high-quality training for law enforcement related to autism.
“This specialized training will serve as another resource for our deputies and professional staff to utilize when interacting with individuals who are on the spectrum,” Sheriff Corpus said.
“Unlike other neurodevelopmental disabilities, autism can be more difficult to recognize without training and experience. This experience will allow us to better serve our communities, and I am grateful to Dr. Gardner for sharing her wisdom and experience with us. It is especially appropriate during this Autism Acceptance Month,” he said.
Although the training is not open to the public for logistical reasons, members of Sheriff Corpus' Community Advisors for Responsible Engagement (CARE) program and local media will be invited to attend.
The first phase of training is scheduled from April 29 to May 3, and the second in June. By the conclusion of the second phase, all Sheriff's deputies and frontline professional staff will have gone through the program.
Additionally, in the coming weeks, all sheriff's deputies on patrol will be equipped with a sensory kit that includes cards and other items to help calm situations and better connect with the people they encounter.
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