Is anyody here familiar with the "blue envelope" program, a law enforcement

[niyad]

program ostensibly nationwide that is supposed to ease encounters between leo's and those wiith various disabilities, etc. As the local sheriff's department spokesperson "explained" it, people with disabilities, etc., ae supposed to keep all their documents with them at all times, and present them upon encountering leo's. The "blue envelope" is also supposed to include guidelines for leo's in dealing with the holders of these envelopes.

Frankly, this creeps me out on so many levels. What is the thinking behind this? Is there any likelihood of meaningful success? What am I missing?

[SheltieLover]

1. Never heard of this.

[niyad]

2. I just ran across it on the laughable excuse for a "local" news feed.

[SheltieLover]

5. Maybe for those who are non verbal?

[niyad]

8. Amoung others on the list.

[SheltieLover]

12. I have seen several news stories about young males

With autism being shot & killed by police after parents called for help.

Funny, how 20 yr old 100 lb teachers deescalate such situations daily without killing anyone...

[niyad]

16. I have seen them as well. Agree with your last.

[hunter]

18. I've said that for a long time.

Many cops wouldn't survive as teachers, wouldn't be able to keep the peace in their classrooms, wouldn't be able to deal with extremely unreasonable parents.

Maybe success in jobs like teaching where one is expected to deescalate tense situations without wearing an intimidating uniform and waving a gun around, without physical violence, ought to be a prerequisite for being a cop.

[SheltieLover]

19. Absolutely!

[WhiskeyGrinder]

3. ARC apparently provides training for it.

Here's an example:

https://thearcofshelby.org/the-blue-envelope/

[niyad]

4. Thank you.

[Irish_Dem]

6. If used correctly, it could be beneficial.

I used to train police officers on how to deal with
mental health issues out in the community as they did their jobs.

Generally they have no training at all. They come across emergencies
and sometimes do not have time to think over things carefully.

So if they were handed a cheat sheet of directions written
by professionals it might help a lot.

And keep everyone safe.

[niyad]

7. Thank you. I keep thinking about a man in southern CA many years ago.

He had severe mental health issues, and was shot and killed because officers (yes, mulitple) "feared for their lives". He was brandishing an 18" bamboo garden stake.

[Irish_Dem]

10. Yes good example.

Perhaps if this man had some written material on him, written by his therapist
and police psychologist with suggestions and information, it would have turned out differently.

IDK the particulars of this case, but this would be an example:

Dear officers: This man is not high risk, no history of violence.
He was abused as a child and becomes fearful and self protective if approached
by a group of men. He has the mental capacity of an 8 year old.
Speak to him carefully, quietly and slowly.

If you have a female officer, he will respond better to her than male officers.
Also this is his mother's cell phone, he will listen to her.

[rsdsharp]

13. There are lots of videos on YouTube of police officers being handed written material.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen one where the cops read the documents.

The default mindset is, “Don’t tell me how to do my job.”

[Irish_Dem]

14. If this is the case, LE is foolish. It could save lives.

[rsdsharp]

20. Well, LE deliberately tests to eliminate high intelligence in potential recruits.

In most cases they won’t accept you into The Academy (cough — trade school) if your IQ is over 104. They believe people with higher IQs will become bored with the job and quit.

[Irish_Dem]

21. In any organization, people with higher IQs rise through the ranks

and take management positions and other more demanding jobs.

It is foolish of LE to select out higher IQ.

[rsdsharp]

23. They do allow some smarter candidates through for exactly that reason,

but the majority are hired to be order followers, not order givers. Then they are trained into an “us v. them” mentality, and to dominate every encounter.

[niyad]

26. When I was in college, just for grins, I took the police academy test.

I failed. According to the rejection letter, I was, and Ii quote, "not psychologically suited to be a police officer". I had been curious to know what their screening process was, and I apparently found out.

[H2O Man]

25. Before retiring,

one of my job duties was to do the trainings for town, county, and state police candidates at the local state university, on dealing with the mentally ill in the community, especially in community crisis situations. Even at the mental health clinic, we saw some -- not all, of course -- officers beat the hell out of teenagers and adults who were in crisis. So I favor people with any number of issues being able to communicate that with law enforcement.

[H2O Man]

24. An example

is with people with hearing issues. It is best to have a way to communicate that in a non-threatening way to police. This can help keep the cop from thinking you are being "disespectful." There are a number of other similar things that can be important to communicate from the giddy-up. I've never heard about the way described in the OP, but am aware of variations.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

9. It looks like it's primarily for car drivers and passengers and is meant to evoke "extra patience and time."

Things that cops aren't exactly great at providing.

[LoisB]

11. I think part of its purpose is to let law enforcement know that the person they made contact

with has some sort of special need: autistic, deaf, cognitive disability, etc. Several counties in CA have this program although Los Angeles County does not. I guess so LEOs won't just bash their heads in for "resisting" or "obstruction"? I don't know how it works or is supposed to work.

[uncle ray]

15. it's bullshit that anyone should have to carry papers to prevent being killed by cops.

[niyad]

17. The first thing that came to my mind was, "show us your papers".