Montreal police deploy pilot project for safer interventions with autistic people
Montreal police are asking families of neurodivergent people to share key intervention methods to prevent future misunderstandings.
Called AutSecours, police say families can share details such as how the person communicates, how they react to stress, and their preferred intervention methods.
The goal of the program is to not only reduce tragic interventions between neurodivergent people and police officers, but also families’ hesitation to call for help if their child or family member has a crisis.
Training first responders about neurodivergent people is a mandate for organizations like the Pacific Autism Family Network. Since 2009, they have trained more than 3,500 police, firefighters, paramedics and call takers/dispatchers in intervention methods that de-escalate stressful situations.
AutSecours adds another layer by informing police officers of atypical situations at the home they will enter.
The project was inspired by a 2020 police intervention in which a police officer placed his hand on a teenager’s shoulder to reassure them, but had the opposite effect.
AutSecors will first be offered to the parents of students at Giant Steps school.
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