Autism and Law Enforcement: A Safety Crisis?

Two weeks ago, in my blog entry “Autism and Wandering: A Safety Crisis,” I discussed the prevalence of children with autism who wander away from safe places such as home and often wind up tragically drowning in nearby bodies of water. Specifically, I mentioned that in early May three children with autism had wandered away from their families and were found drowned. Since that entry was written, a fourth boy, Freddie Williams from Webb City, Missouri, who was fourteen years old and had autism, wandered from home and drowned in a pond. Clearly, this is an issue that cannot be ignored, and as I noted in my blog entry, parents will need to work with law enforcement agencies to develop training regarding how to deal with children and adults who have autism.

Along with learning how to deal with children who have autism and wander, law enforcement must learn how to interact with adults with autism who are agitated. A little over a week ago, an adult woman with autism in a town neighboring mine was arrested for theft, disorderly conduct, and resisting law enforcement. [To read the online newspaper account, click here.] She was caught stealing a beer from a neighbor’s outdoor refrigerator in the middle of the night, and when police approached her, she was not compliant with their orders, which is not surprising considering that people with autism often have trouble following verbal directions, especially in a situation where they are anxious. Apparently, she refused to come out of hiding from behind a shed, kept her hands in her pockets when she was told to show her hands, and attempted to flee. To subdue her, the police officer used a Taser on her twice. Certainly, the police officer needed to protect herself, but the thought of using a Taser on someone who likely has greater sensory issues than a typical person seems like cruel and unusual punishment. The police chief defended his officer’s use of the Taser, however, saying this use of force was appropriate in this situation.

As if this weren’t upsetting enough, a follow-up article published a few days ago [To read this article, click here.] indicates that a local judge has determined that the woman must remain in jail. Even though he admits that jail is not the proper placement for this woman with autism, he stated that she will have to make do there until they can move her to another facility with proper supervision that will meet her needs yet also protect society. The article also mentions that when the woman clearly did not understand the court proceedings, he addressed her mother, who like her daughter, broke down in tears when the judge told her she could not come home. My heart breaks for this woman who clearly does not belong in jail because she doesn’t understand the ramifications of her actions and for her mother who is trying to help her the best she can. Moreover, I’m not sure where the judge thinks he is going to place her, as we found out last year when we were dealing with Alex’s extreme behavior because no one wants to deal with adults with autism. There is no facility in this county who will deal with adults with autism, and parents of adults with autism are left to do the best they can to help their children on their own.

Last year, a teenage boy with autism in a town about an hour away from mine was shot and killed by police officers when his parents called for help to help subdue him. [To read a news account of this incident, click here.] When he threatened the officers with a knife and cut one of them, two officers each fired one shot, killing the boy. Again, police officers understandably needed to protect themselves, but perhaps better training in dealing with people who have autism might have prevented this tragic outcome. As more children with autism become adult-sized and difficult for their parents to manage, police are more likely to be called upon to help intervene when their behavior becomes extreme and potentially dangerous. Something needs to be done to keep everyone—parents, people with autism, and police officers—safe.

To protect our children with autism, whether they be those liable to wander into a pond or those who may become confrontational in a crisis, parents will need to lead the charge for better training of law enforcement so that they can help our children and not harm them. They need to understand our children’s communication deficits, difficulties with social skills, and anxiety that may lead them to basic “fight or flight” responses. A valuable resource can be found at the Autism Society of Maine’s website regarding law enforcement and autism with several links to excellent information. [To access this webpage, click here.] I’m hopeful that something can be put in place in every community that will prevent children with autism from wandering and drowning and from having adults with autism being subdued with Tasers or guns. After all, both parents and police officers have the same goal—to protect, especially those who cannot protect themselves. Perhaps some good can then come from these sad situations so that our children with autism will remain safe.

“Because you trusted Me, I will give you your life as a reward. I will rescue you and keep you safe. I, the Lord, have spoken!” Jeremiah 39:18