Suffield PD Partners With FECS For Autism Awareness Events

From Suffield PD: On April 21, 2017, the Suffield Police Department, in conjunction with the Foundation for Exceptional Children of Suffield (FECS) held a training seminar entitled Autism Awareness for the First Responder at the Suffield Volunteer Ambulance Association (SVAA) facility. This training was presented by Police Sergeant Ryan Roettger of the Southbridge, Massachusetts Police Department. Sgt. Roettger, in addition to being the parent of an autistic child, is a trainer for the Autism and Law Enforcement Education Coalition (ALEC) which is a national training organization committed to promoting autism awareness in the law enforcement community.

Sgt. Roettger familiarized participants how to recognize the various levels of functioning on the autistic spectrum as well as other identifiable behaviors commonly associated with autism. More importantly, Sgt. Roettger shared strategies and de-escalation techniques with attending police personnel with the goal of ensuring successful police interactions with those members of the community who are diagnosed with autism.

Of the police staff in attendance, there was a large representation of Suffield Police personnel including supervisory staff, public safety dispatchers, the School Resource Officer, and patrol officers. In addition, police personnel from the Coventry, East Granby, Enfield, Granby, and Connecticut State Police Departments were in attendance. Clinicians of the Community Health Resources (CHR) Mobile Crisis Team, the emergency mental health provider for the region, were also in attendance.

Residents and others interested in learning more about autism and the community efforts in Suffield to promote awareness and education on this topic, including two (2) public events occurring this week, are encouraged to visit the Facebook page for the Foundational for Exceptional Children of Suffield at https://www.facebook.com/FECSO60781. FECS may also be contacted via email at FECSO6078G2@gmail.Com.

The Suffield Police Department invites all members of Suffield's community and beyond our town boundaries to follow Our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Suffi... Police. The more connected the police are with all segments and facets of the community, the better we can deliver police services and ensure public safety. The Suffield Police Face Book page offers safety tips, community on goings, and updates on the Suffield Police Department's community programs.

Images Courtesy Of Suffield PD