We the undersigned, seek to have all police officers in Jackson County, go through a training program to heighten the police awareness towards people afflicted by the autism spectrum disorder. We feel that Sheriff Rand has not taken seriously the issue of autism or people who are afflicted with autism. This was brought to light in an article about Zachary Maxon, who was arrested for and now facing charges for attacking his father and two police officers with a set of nail-clippers. Sheriff Rand had stated in the news article "The situation could have easily escalated and involved deadly force", Sheriff Rand and his deputies are fully aware that Mr. Maxon has autism and seem to have no sensitivity towards people afflicted with autism. We would like to have his department, as well as all other police departments in Jackson County, be mandated to take some classes that give them some formal training, dealing with individuals who do have autism. We fear that citizens afflicted with autism in our community are in disproportionate danger concerning run-ins with any of these police departments at large. We cannot assume that these officers will err on the side of better judgment concerning future encounters with citizens afflicted by the autism spectrum disorder, so we must petition that these classes be mandated to alert their senses to the seriousness of this matter.
↧
