Thinking of writing to the local sheriff regarding Autism

Post Reply New Topic

I'm a lifelong admirer of our law enforcement and firefighting communities. However, I lately have been harassed several times in California by Los Angeles County and Ventura County Sheriff's deputies. I know it isn't their fault, but I do feel there is a lack of understanding or training for law enforcement on the proper understanding and communication needs of Asperger's and Autism citizens. I always have to be sure every light bulb is working, and obviously obey every traffic law perfectly, and be sure all paperwork is 100% flawless. This is because when I do get pulled over for anything (as I did on Easter Sunday for side windows being tinted beyond factory specs), I get the third degree... "Have you taken drugs?; Are you on parole? Are you supposed to be driving? Do you have a gun? Mind if I have a look?" Very unnerving and INVASIVE. I'm not a criminal, and I don't like having to feel like one when I see a cop checking me out. They always think I'm lying or hiding something, and it probably drives them as crazy not to be able to find out why they think that, as it does for me as the subject. Another issue is with firefighters: I socked a fireman without meaning to, along with punching and kicking a few good samaritan neighbors when my house burned down in 1988. They were trying to give me a physical assist away from the house, but my fear of being assisted was more powerful than my fear of getting burned. I tried to run back into the fire for safety from the fire department and all those grabbing arms! I wasn't hurt (much), but I was lucky. As a matter of fact, I made it into a room in the back of the house and was able to slam the door to a room addition (which was open), and that stopped the fire from destroying about half my stuff. If I'm ever in a car accident bad enough to need rescuing, I'm worried I'll break my own neck and go to prison for assaulting a peace officer for trying to get loose from the rescuers.

It seems to me that a little bit more education for public safety personnel could go a LONG way to resolve this. I may compose a letter to the Ventura County Sheriff, as it's election time, and it's a great time to bring up these issues for the new candidates.

Any thoughts on this?

Charles

it's how we act/respond to them....they see it as evasive or that we are hiding something. i don't think that will ever change........maybe get an autism magnet for your car & a medic alert bracelet.

If you can get a supporter to write on your behalf, it's even more powerful. For example, if I were a religious person (actually I'm happily agnostic), I'd say get a minister to write a letter on your behalf. The minister in the role as respected community leader. And you might be able to find other respected community leaders.

Okay, the gold standard, what you'd really like, would be a letter from the sheriff that you could keep in your glove compartment, right next to the vehicle registration and proof of insurance. And the letter would explain to a law enforcement officer in one or two paragraphs that you have Asperger's Syndrome and what that means.

Excellent idea... It's in the mail!

I wrote to my candidate's facebook page, and he replied with what seems to be a reasonable answer, but I'd like to hear some details on what exactly his deputies would be asked to do, in order to decide whether a person may be AS or may be a bad guy. (I started a new thread on this)

http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt126608.html



An excellent idea as well!! ! I will do this, as I can get a letter from a well-respected, well-known retired Los Angeles Police official, and in the event that Deputy Carpenter wins the election and becomes Sheriff, the Facebook mail exchange between him and me, will have clout if printed and carried. It also helps that I'm a witness in an upcoming court case, defending a Ventura County Sheriff's deputy in a car crash, and that I helped force his patrol open to let him out, when it was catching fire, before any help arrived. (That was 6 weeks before I got hassled on Easter Sunday for 30 minutes, and questioned, held, and all that stuff). I didn't say anything about being the witness/rescue assistant... It would have been in bad context.


Charles

Back in the 70's we had a lot of problems with the San Jose PD. I got harassed a lot because I just didn't respond well. Eventually the neighborhood parents got together and formed a action group. They managed to get several officers moved from the area and reprimanded.

I remember this young cop was so desperate to mess with me that he wrote me up for "almost" exhibition of speed. The judge tore him a new one for that. Another time I was ticketed for doing 90 and tailgating my friend who was ticketed by another officer for doing 45 in a 35. Judge tore that guy up for that to. How do you tailgate going twice the speed of the guy in front of you. lol

I was lucky, my Dad was a real hard ass and he would show up to court with the kitchen sink if he had to. The judges seemed to listen to him when he spoke.

I eventually got worked over by a couple cops and left on the side of the road. My friend was arrested while working on his own car in front of his own house. That's when the parents started taking action.

I support Law enforcement and know they are necessary to maintaining civilization. But at the same time I understand they are human and are affected by the job. Some seek out the job for the wrong reasons. So things happen. You just have to stand up for your rights and get help if you have to.

Dear Charles, I think as bad as this sounds, its going to have to be one of the situations "taken on the chin" (especially the firefighter scenario).

Educating the local law enforcement as best as possible will indeed be valuable, especially if you have resources you can cite/point them too.

But here comes the problem, LEO's and firefighters serve The Public and im afraid we're only single members of that elite group, We're each a Member of The Public.. your concerns are valid. but they cant really 'adjust', up until every aspie gets a special tattoo no one else can wear/have there's no way for officers to RELIABLY tell, are you autistic and thats why your wearing that bracelet and evading the LEO's eyes? or are you a guilty person who knows they might get overlooked just for wearing a bracelet...

Something that /may/ help you (and others) in future ordeals with LEO's.

LEO's/public servants, do a stop.. enter a situation their abit like the K9's, they're trained, and the first thing their trained is, Gain Control, Gain Compliance.

Almost everything else especially with cops is secondary, so when your next stopped. say the following to the officer BEFORE answering his first question.

"Sir i am Autistic, (and touch averse (if appropriate)), I will comply with your instructions."

its not ideal no, /but/ it immediately puts the situation on them, They've been informed, they can no longer claim ignorance and if they mock.. yes there's camera's with A/V in most cruisers

You may find the attitude rapidly changes, hopefully for the best.
Face Facts, They May can and probably WILL search you and your vehicle, hard as it is try and endure and maybe don't keep anything on you or in your car you wouldn't want found.

Final thing, ALWAYS keep your hands in sight with them.