Local law enforcement attended a presentation at Carson Middle School on Jan. 20 on how to best interact with those who may be on the autism spectrum or have intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The event was presented by Scott Bailey, an officer for the Fox Chapel Area School District and member of the Aspinwall Police Department.
Bailey also works with the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office Search and Rescue Team and is certified to train officers in Project Lifesaver, a free program for individuals who may wander from home due to their disability.
Project Lifesaver is offered by law enforcement and other emergency responders in 41 states. It uses proven radio technology and specially trained search-and-rescue teams to find citizens enrolled in the program when they become lost, according to the Allegheny County DA’s website. It is free to Allegheny County residents.
Bailey, who has two adult sons on the spectrum, said it is beneficial for officers to be educated and trained on how to interact with people who have that disabilities — especially since more people are being diagnosed with the disorder.
“It’s extremely important. A lot of the school districts do have school-based policing, and the numbers keep rising for children diagnosed with autism. It’s pretty important that officers understand and can recognize some of these signs and how autism is,” Bailey said.
North Allegheny police Chief Eric Harpster is interested in Project Lifesaver training for himself and his officers.
There are students at North Allegheny School District who already participate in the Project Lifesaver program, Harpster said.
“Having our own officers respond could shorten the response time if the officer participates in this program and can utilize the equipment capable of locating the student. Additionally, the officer leading the search will likely have a more personal relationship with the student, which can help the student feel more comfortable when located,” Harpster said.
The free training takes place in Allegheny County and takes about two days, Bailey said. Officers are trained on terminology, best practices and how to use the tracking equipment.
Project Lifesaver provides a tracking device to individuals with a cognitive brain disorder who may be inclined to wander away from home. The device is free for Allegheny County participants, which can cost upward of a few hundred dollars in other places, Bailey said.
Bailey said it gives peace of mind to families and law enforcement alike.
Bailey credits Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala for providing the program free of charge.
“We’re fortunate to have this,” Bailey said. “The more education, the more easy it is for everybody on both sides.”
There are about 150 people across the county in the program at one time. Responders typically find an individual within 30 to 45 minutes. It’s more effective, efficient and at a lower cost than contacting all local emergency departments and volunteers, Bailey said.
Bailey’s son, Trevor, 26, discussed his experience on the autism spectrum.
“I’m glad everyone could be here today to learn what autism is and what you can do,” Trevor said.
Bailey’s other son, Trent, now 25, had a negative experience with state police when he was pulled over for speeding in his early 20s. He had been driving fast because of a family emergency.
Bailey said people with Autism Spectrum Disorder are more likely to be the victim of a crime than a perpetrator. He said the number of those on the spectrum is on the rise with 1 in 35 births as of 2023.
“One in seven persons with ASD are more likely to have an encounter with law enforcement,” said Bailey, adding 1 in 50 of these people are school-age children.
Officers attending the event came from the Pittsburgh region, as well as Armstrong, Beaver and Washington counties, and even local universities and colleges, Harpster said.
For details about Project Lifesaver, call Angela Kelley, Allegheny County’s assistant district attorney, at 412-350-3138 or email akelley@alleghenycountyda.us.