Montgomery County Council issued a proclamation Tuesday praising the police department’s autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities unit for 20 years of service.
Begun in 2004, the officers in this unit respond to calls for service involving missing loved ones with autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities, Alzheimer and dementia. They work on a five-prong approach involving education, outreach, follow up, empowerment and resources.
According to Officer Laurie Reyes, who heads the unit, it “handles thousands of calls a year.”
So far this year, current and retired police officers made 550 follow-up calls, ensuring the families are aware of resources available to them.
“You have saved lives across the United States, and we are extremely proud,” said Councilmember Dawn Luedtke, referring to other police departments who have adopted a similar unit.
Councilmember Will Jawando said the officers involved “were so far ahead of the curve” in beginning this program 20 years ago.
Explaining her unit’s “culture of awareness,” Reyes urged everyone whose disabled loved one is missing to call 9-1-1 immediately. “Don’t wait,” she said, because her officers have lots of experience.
Last summer, the unit was successful in saving a non-verbal autistic child who had gone into a lake at Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Silver Spring. Many, but not all of these incidents, have positive outcomes.
A similar incident in July at Bohrer Park in Gaithersburg resulted in the death of 6-year-old Fawzan Hassan.
Councilmembers @dawn_luedtke, @MC_Council_Katz, @CMKristinMink, @albornoz_gabe, @CMJawando & CAO Madaleno, on behalf of @MontCoExec Elrich, present a proclamation honoring the @mcpnews Autism/Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (IDD), Alzheimer’s and Dementia Outreach Unit. pic.twitter.com/GrWvSm2TL5
— Montgomery Council (@MoCoCouncilMD) October 29, 2024
