When Jake Babcock was diagnosed with autism at the age of 3, his dad Jesse, a police officer, knew little about the disorder. Seven years later, Jesse is helping law enforcement across New Jersey better understand it.
Jake, now 10, has Level 2 autism, meaning he needs moderate support with communication and behavior. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, classifies autism spectrum disorder into three levels based on the amount of support needed: Level 1 (requiring support), Level 2 (requiring substantial support), and Level 3 (requiring very substantial support).
Jake is fully verbal and attends public school with an Individualized Education Plan and special classes. His attention span is very short, his dad says, but his vocabulary is “insane,” according to his mom, Caitlyn.
“Jake knows he has autism. We have been very honest with him about it,” Jesse said. “Although his autism has caused a lot of tough times over the past decade, Jake wouldn’t be Jake if he didn’t have autism.”
Jake is the older son of Jesse, now a police sergeant, and Caitlyn, a middle school math teacher. Jesse is the Franklin Borough Police Department’s Autism Resource Officer in rural Sussex County, the northernmost county in New Jersey, and teaches the Law Enforcement Against Drugs program at the local elementary school.
The family learned Jake’s diagnosis in April 2018. “I allowed myself to cry in the car on the way home,” Caitlyn recalled. “Then I sat in our driveway for over an hour calling ABA places.”
ABA, or Applied Behavior Analysis, is an evidence-based therapy designed to teach new skills and reduce challenging behavior. Jake started ABA within two months of his diagnosis. He went from speaking three words to full sentences within six months and completed ABA at age 9 after meeting his goals.
Jake’s younger brother, Connor, is 7 and not on the autism spectrum. The two are “best buds, typical brothers, always playing together,” Jesse says.
The boys love creating imaginary worlds with warriors and villains, including Chocolate Man, who tries to steal all the chocolate, and Dessertinator, who grows stronger by eating dessert. Jake recently became interested in wrestling; he is collecting action figures like WWE’s Rey Mysterio and Penta. He loves watching wrestling on YouTube and a supernatural series called Wolf Pack.
“He is a super sweet empathetic kid, not a mean bone in his body,” Jesse said. “But if something triggers him, he loses it.”
Connor understands when Jake needs space or fewer distractions, like turning off the TV. Transitions and unexpected changes can be hard for Jake, leading to meltdowns.
Despite challenges, Jesse and Caitlyn see Jake for who he is: a bright, loving child who experiences the world differently. They want others to see that, too.
“As a family, we have decided that autism is not Jake’s defining trait, but it does guide the way we do certain things,” Caitlyn said. “Jake knows that ‘having ASD’ is not a reason to not clean his room, not share with his brother, or not do his best in school. But it may mean he needs a bit more time or a break. While families like ours do all we can to help shape a more understanding world for our children, I recognize that not all of society will bend to meet him. He will need to develop skills and resilience to overcome challenges in life.”
Sports have been a positive outlet for Jake. He plays soccer and basketball, bowls, does Taekwondo, and competes in track and field at the Special Olympics, where Jesse proudly stands on the field for opening ceremonies with other officers in uniform.
“Taekwondo is good for making him focus and getting good exercise,” Jesse explains. “Track, basketball and bowling are good for keeping him active, socializing with other athletes, and hopefully teaching him about being part of a team.”
That same passion for inclusion drives Jesse’s role on Autism New Jersey’s Law Enforcement Advisory Committee, which works to advance safety, communication, and collaboration between law enforcement and autism communities across the state.
The committee has named 12 practices designed to increase the likelihood of safe and positive interactions between law enforcement and the autism community. They include the Blue Envelope program, which provides key information to the officer on how a driver or passenger with autism may react during a traffic stop. It also gives the driver instructions on which documents should be kept in the envelope and how to interact with police if they are pulled over. Another practice is a special needs registry, a voluntary opportunity to share critical information with law enforcement so they can better respond in an emergency.
“Sergeant Babcock is a major value-add to the committee’s efforts, especially with his commitment to encouraging the adoption of autism-friendly practices within his own community,” said Doreen Yanik, Director of Autism New Jersey’s Law Enforcement Initiative. “He not only talks the talk but has actually done the work to improve law enforcement practices within his own department to ensure safe and positive interactions with the autism community.”
Jesse said he got his department hooked up with the Blue Envelope program last year. He and his wife also put together sensory bags to keep in his department’s patrol vehicles. The bags include items like fidget spinners and coloring books that can help reduce stress in high-pressure situations with individuals with autism.
“We’re just a small town in Sussex County,” Jesse said. “I’m trying to do my part. It means a lot to me.”
When Autism New Jersey asked Jake what makes him happy, he hugged his parents and said, “My family.” Then, learning he’d be the star of this story, he grinned: “Are you going to put it on the news? Breaking news: There’s a family called the Babcocks, and they are awesome. Goodnight.”
Autism New Jersey provides free, lifelong help for families navigating an autism diagnosis. Call 800.4. AUTISM.
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