Dighton Police Department Officer Spearheads Emergency Services Altered Response Program, To Share Information on Oct. 10

DIGHTON — Chief George Nichols, on behalf of the Dighton Police Department, shares that Patrolman AJ Swartz will outline a new initiative to ensure more effective and safe interactions with special-needs individuals during a PTSA meeting with Dighton-Rehoboth school community parents and staff tomorrow.

WHEN:

Oct. 10, at 6:30 p.m. 

Rehoboth Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) Membership Meeting, open to all Dighton-Rehoboth families and staff

WHERE: 

Palmer River Elementary School, 326 Winthrop St., Rehoboth

Link to virtual meeting: https://meet.google.com/pxy-qwhz-fvv 

WHAT:

Patrol Officer AJ Swartz will present during a Rehoboth PTSA Membership Meeting at Palmer River Elementary School to discuss the Dighton Police Department’s Emergency Services Altered Response initiative.

Officer Swartz developed the initiative with help from the Dighton-Rehoboth Special Education Parent Advisory Council (DR-SEPAC) to ensure more effective and safe interactions with special-needs individuals and first responders, including law enforcement. 

Officer Swartz will discuss how it benefits police to have knowledge before responding to an emergency at the home of an individual with a disability and ways to alert first responders that a loved one may need additional accommodations.

Dighton-Rehoboth families with loved ones of all ages with developmental disabilities, including autism spectrum disorder, are encouraged to fill out this form.

The form asks caregivers for information on individuals with special needs, including triggers, medications, communication signals, likely places to go if lost and positive 

talking points to allow the individual to communicate with first responders in an emergency.

The information will be kept on file with Dighton Police, Fire and dispatch to be used as needed. Dighton Police encourage those who have filled out the form to update the department periodically as important information changes, such as a new address or a change in emergency contact information. The department also asks for a new photo as the person ages.

Information collected by the Dighton Police Department will only be used for emergency responses and is strictly confidential. Personal information will never be shared outside of the Dighton Police Department, EMS and the Dighton Fire Department. 

“I want the community to know we’re here to help,” Officer Swartz said. “Part of ensuring that we do our job effectively is to be aware of individuals that may not respond to typical verbal commands or may need different support during an emergency.”

Officer Swartz formed the idea for the program after seeing responses to emergencies that were hindered by a lack of information.

He recalled the time police and K-9 units spent six hours searching for a missing teenage boy who lives on the autism spectrum. 

“We found out hours later that he liked to climb,” Officer Swartz said. “He was found in a tree a few hundred feet from home. We realized that we had walked past him multiple times, but we hadn’t focused our efforts on looking up. Had we known that he often climbed trees, we would have been able to respond more effectively.”

Officer Swartz also recalled a response with Dighton EMS for a report of a heart attack. First responders were aware that an adult resident lived with autism spectrum disorder, allowing them to use their training and expertise to de-escalate the resident and effectively provide life-saving care to a family member.

This issue hits especially close to home for Officer Swartz. His nephew is nonverbal and has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

“I want to make sure that everyone, not just my nephew or the Dighton community, is able to be effectively cared for in emergency situations. An individual who is nonverbal or has different communication needs should not face barriers with responses to events,” Officer Swartz said. “My hope is that other departments notice the success of this initiative, and we can implement Altered Response methods statewide. I want to see this program save a life.”

The Dighton Police Department will be handing out items for families to display to notify first responders that an individual with special needs is at a residence or in a vehicle. Seat belt covers provided by the Dighton Police Department can indicate to first responders that the individual may not respond as expected. File of Life magnets to place in a vehicle or residence are also being distributed and can provide the most updated medical information to ensure the most effective treatment on scene and at the hospital. These items are available upon completion of the Emergency Altered Response form. 

“We want the Dighton-Rehoboth community to know that we value establishing positive relationships and improving how we do our job,” said Dighton Police Chief George Nichols. “I am immensely proud of Officer Swartz for identifying a gap he saw in policing and working toward a solution to better protect and serve our community and beyond.”

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