The Anaheim Police Department presented its department-wide implementation of the Blue Envelope program to the city council Tuesday, aimed at improving communication between law enforcement and residents who need additional accommodations.
The voluntary program provides drivers who have conditions such as autism, epilepsy, cerebral palsy or cognitive challenges with a variety of tools, including document holders, wallet cards and visual assistance aids to signal communication preferences and accommodations to officers.
“What it essentially does is it gives us time and it gives us information, and in law enforcement, those are the two most important things we can get,” said Anaheim PD traffic commander Lt. Rick Boyer during the city council presentation.
Participants in the program can choose from four free options based on their personal needs.
The primary tool is the blue envelope itself, which can hold essential driving documents such as a license, vehicle registration or proof of insurance. It also includes emergency contact information and optional notes outlining the driver’s specific communication preferences or accommodations.
Other physical options include a wallet card designed for quick access to emergency contacts or a sticker for vehicle or home entrances that alert responding officers to communication needs. The department also offers a communication assistance card featuring visual prompts for participating individuals who are nonverbal, deaf or hard of hearing.
The Blue Envelope program was spearheaded by motor officer Ryan Warner, who adapted a model that was first introduced in Connecticut for drivers with autism in 2022. After successfully testing the initiative within the department’s traffic division, Anaheim PD is now rolling out the program across all operational units, including the patrol unit and department volunteer programs.
Similar programs have also been rolled out across other parts of Orange and San Bernardino counties.
The department’s traffic detail will lead scenario-based training for all officers, focusing on how to identify situations where the program can benefit residents. The instruction will cover practical de-escalation tactics, including adjustments to tone, delivery and interaction pacing to make police interactions more accessible and supportive for participating individuals.
Boyer said that the department also plans to promote this program and provide these envelopes at community outreach events within the city’s Child-Passenger Safety Program and within the department’s schools program.
During the city council meeting, suggestions for further expansion of the program were made by city council members, including a request by District 4 Council Member Norma Campos Kurtz to expand it to senior citizens also.
Anaheim PD is still building the program’s website for individuals interested in participating. Although the sign-up process has not been finalized, the department plans to publish an interest form on its website and social media for individuals who may benefit from the program.