Law Enforcement Initiative Continues to Strengthen Partnerships
June 13, 2024
The Law Enforcement Initiative continues its work of coordinating with a multitude of local, county and state agencies to establish meaningful partnerships. Autism New Jersey has helped to serve as a resource connecting numerous police departments with resources that will assist them in funding certain autism-friendly practices, including the use of real-time locative devices.
Autism New Jersey Advocates for County-Wide Adoption of Blue Envelope and Seatbelt Covers at Mercer County Chiefs Meeting
On May 9, 2024, Autism New Jersey was honored to present about its initiative to the Mercer County Chiefs Association and Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo Onofri (pictured with Autism New Jersey Law Enforcement Director, Doreen Yanik, Esq.) which resulted in important conversations regarding county-wide adoption of Blue Envelope and autism seatbelt covers.
Within the last month, the Law Enforcement Initiative team also met with several municipal Police Chiefs from diverse geographic locations throughout New Jersey to ensure that underserved and underserviced communities are included in the effort to promote autism-friendly practices.
LEAC Grows in Membership and Momentum
Our Law Enforcement Advisory Committee (LEAC) has expanded in membership and continues to meet as part of our next phase to address existing practices, identify challenges/barriers to putting in place and/or funding these practices, and formulating additional innovative practices.
At our most recent LEAC hybrid meeting on May 23rd, a presentation was made by real-time locative vendor AngelSense and Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office Detective Erick Hyer to address wandering and elopement scenarios. Our topical sub-committees’ membership has also grown in size due to overwhelming law enforcement interest, and our “Driver and Passenger-related Issues” sub-committee will be meeting shortly.