With his station positioned near a major crossroads and a casino, Caernarvon Township police Chief Paul Stolz Jr. knows all too well that conducting a traffic stop carries inherent danger for officers.
Officers don’t know what they will encounter when they walk up to a vehicle to make contact with the driver and any passengers.
“Yes, we may know a few of our citizens or local businesspersons,” Stolz said, “but we don’t know everybody traveling through our community, so our first interaction with that person is very important.
“It may set the tone as good, bad or horrible.”
The tension can run both ways — especially for people with sensory sensitivities or impaired communication abilities. Any tool that can help smooth the interaction is a win for everyone, Stolz said.
The Blue Envelope program will help police officers understand the needs of a driver who may be autistic. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
Stolz and other Berks County law enforcement leaders recently announced the launch of the Blue Envelope program in the county during a news conference at the Caernarvon police headquarters, about a mile from the Morgantown interchange of the Pennsylvania Turnpike and Hollywood Casino Morgantown.
Stolz said he first learned about a similar program in neighboring Lancaster County last year and brought the idea to the Berks County Chiefs of Police Association.
The envelope provides an immediate signal that a driver may need additional consideration during a traffic stop, Stolz said.
Knowing that a person has a disability can allow officers to approach and handle the interaction differently.
The voluntary program is primarily intended to assist drivers with autism spectrum disorder, but officials said it also can benefit people with other disabilities that may cause anxiety or communication difficulties.
Drivers can place their license, registration and proof of insurance inside the blue envelope, along with an information sheet explaining their communication needs. The information can alert officers to issues such as difficulty processing questions, sensitivity to bright lights or loud noises and whether a person is verbal or nonverbal.
When stopped, a driver can tell the officer they have a Blue Envelope and hand it over when asked for their documents.
The envelopes are being made available at no charge to Berks law enforcement agencies, with funding provided by the county district attorney’s and sheriff’s offices.
District Attorney John T. Adams said the program recognizes that people can respond differently to the stress of a traffic stop. Flashing lights and noise, for example, can trigger reactions in some people on the autism spectrum.
He said numerous individuals in Berks have been diagnosed with autism and other disorders that may not be apparent at first glance.
“This will help them and it will help the police officers,” Adams said. “And, frankly, it’s going to help us have policing that is good for our community.”
Sheriff Mandy Miller called the program a simple idea that could have a significant impact, describing its goals as better communication, better understanding and safer interactions between law enforcement and the community.
Alex Mann of Malvern, Chester County, an autism advocate, talks about the Blue Envelope program that provides officers with essential information while helping create safer interactions with drivers who may be autistic. Joining him at a press conference in the Caernarvon Township municipal building are Berks County District Attorney John T. Adams and Berks County Sheriff Mandy Miller. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
Hamburg police Chief Anthony Kuklinski, president of the Berks County Chiefs of Police Association, said the first 30 seconds of a traffic stop are probably the single most important part because of the unknown variables officers face.
“I view it (the Blue Envelope) as a flag for the officers to know, and this is an added measure of safety for not only the individual that the officers have contact with, but for the officer,” he said.
The program is part of a broader shift toward empathy and improved training among police officers when interacting with people with disabilities, Kuklinski said.
He also pointed to continuing autism-awareness training for officers. In Berks, a nationally recognized 40-hour course is offered twice a year for 24 to 30 officers. Autism-related material has been incorporated into police academy and refresher training.
Alex Mann, a Chester County resident who was diagnosed with autism at age 3, has visited more than 500 law enforcement agencies across five states to promote autism awareness.
Mann thanked Berks law enforcement agencies for supporting the Blue Envelope program. Also on hand were officers from the Bern Township and Central Berks Regional police departments.
He said the envelopes can provide officers with essential information while helping create safer interactions.
“The envelope that is being launched in Berks County here today could really be a key and crucial tool of having a safe and peaceful and hopefully harmless interaction with someone with a disability,” Mann said.
The Berks initiative is available to participating law enforcement agencies, and officials are encouraging departments throughout the county to take part.