AURORA, MO. — (KOAM) – The Aurora Police Department will soon distribute special stickers that families of people with autism can display at their homes, part of an effort to improve safety during emergency response situations.
Police Chief Wes Coatney says the initiative stems from his concern about tragic encounters between first responders and people with autism spectrum disorders. The stickers are designed to alert officers before they enter a situation, allowing them to adjust their approach accordingly.
“The autistic person doesn’t always understand the situation that they’re in, and it’s turned into tragedy whether somebody got hurt and or even killed on a few occasions,” said Coatney. “I’ve been a policeman for a long time, and I always want to give us the highest chance of success that I possibly can.”…