Utah Transit Cops Train to Recognize and Help Riders with Autism
Feb. 13, 2018
The police officers who patrol Utah’s largest public transportation system are learning to recognize the signs of riders with special needs who may be in distress.
Source KUTV
The police officers who patrol Utah’s largest public transportation system are learning to recognize the signs of riders with special needs who may be in distress.
The training has a deeply personal connection for Utah Transit Authority Police Sgt. John Pearce who has a son with autism.
“[People with autism] are dependent on public transit and it’s imperative that they feel safe,” Pearce told 2News. “We want to be able to calm situations and be able to help them feel safe on the transit system.”
Pearce says that if a person with autism becomes lost or confused on a bus or train, they can become angry and difficult to understand. He says if police can recognize subtle gestures and mannerisms, officers can help settle and orient the riders.
