PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Philadelphia Police Department is launching a program to improve interactions with civilians who have communication challenges, such as autism. The key is a blue envelope with written information about their special needs.
The blue envelopes are now available at every police station in the city and the school district will soon also be distributing them. The outside form explains the specific communications challenge and essentials such as a drivers license, registration, insurance and special instructions can be placed inside.
Deputy Police commissioner Pedro Rosario is known as the tough-as-nails leader of the Kensington public safety plan, but he softens when he talks about his daughters, who are on the autism spectrum.
“We all want our children to be safe,” he said. “We especially want those in positions of authority to recognize that our child communicates differently, that their value and dignity matter, and their rights should be treated the same as anyone else.”
Rosario said people with conditions such as autism experience a police stop differently.
“What may appear to an officer as non-compliance may just actually be anxiety, fear, sensory overload of a different way of communicating,” he said.
Police have been trained in how to use the information during traffic or pedestrian stops. Bikers and transit riders can also carry the envelopes.
Commissioner Kevin Bethel said the forms don’t change an officer’s authority or a civilian’s responsibility, but it could completely change the outcome of an interaction.
“Our mission statement says the Philadelphia Police Department will be a standard for public safety by leading with compassion,” said Bethel. “Compassion. That is what this is.”
Police are calling it the Blue Envelope program.
Police are calling it the Blue Envelope program.
