BERKELEY – Township Police are promoting their Blue Envelope program, which helps people with special needs and officers interact.
“Being signaled by a law enforcement officer to pull over and the process of a traffic stop can make anyone nervous and anxious. For those who are on the autism spectrum, these issues are compounded,” police said.
The envelope has reminders for the person with autism. It prepares them for the sensory overload they might be encountering – a loud siren and flashing lights, for example. It reminds them that the officer might shine a flashlight into the car and they might have a radio on them. It instructs them to keep their hands on the wheel and to ask permission before moving, such as reaching for something.
Inside the envelope is the driver’s license, registration, insurance – the three things officers always ask for. That way, the driver can just hand the envelope over to the cop. There are two boxes at the top of the envelope – one is checked if the driver is verbal, and the other if they are non-verbal.
The officer will then see the information on the back of the envelope that explains what challenges the driver has. It tells the officers to do such things as simplify requests.
Also inside the envelope is an emergency contact card. This is someone who can be called in case the driver becomes upset.
This issue came up at a recent Township Council meeting. A Prince Charles Drive resident said a family member had a bad interaction with police recently.
A police representative – usually Chief Kevin Santucci – attends every council meeting. The chief told the resident about the Blue Envelope program. Although the program began with highlighting autism, it can be for a variety of special needs.
“For most people, a traffic stop is stressful on both ends,” Santucci said.
A police officer approaching a vehicle expects and is prepared for the worst. If the officer is handed the Blue Envelope, they will know that the driver is having difficulty following the cop’s orders and the officer shouldn’t treat this the same way as non-compliance.
Anyone interested in obtaining a Blue Envelope is urged to visit Berkeley Township Police Headquarters, located at 631 Pinewald-Keswick Road or call their non-emergency main number 732-349-1132 Ext: 2126 and an officer will drop off your blue envelope. This program is currently only available to Berkeley Township residents.
Keep in mind that there are people in certain communities of Berkeley who have Toms River post office addresses. You are a Berkeley resident – and eligible for this program – if you pay your taxes to Berkeley.
