Voluntary Bracelets Help Cops ID People With Disabilities

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — The Highland Park Police Department is offering free, voluntary identification bracelets for citizens with non-visible disabilities, according to a press release. The purpose is to help officers realize that certain people, rather than being non-compliant, are simply having trouble communicating.

"Occasionally, officers are called upon to address incidents where a person cannot communicate who they are or where they live," city officials said in a press release. "Voluntary identification bracelets allow emergency personnel to more quickly learn about a person’s diagnosis and how to best interact."

“We are always seeking solutions to address the unique needs of members of our community with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It is a matter of public safety and inclusion,” said Mayor Nancy Rotering. She added that for those who want the bracelets, they can provide peace of mind to their families.

Highland Park cops do complete annual training to help them understand and work with residents with non-visible disabilities. “Our officers are trained to handle all possible encounters in the field. These identification bracelets provide an extra precaution and could potentially save lives and valuable time in emergency situations,” said Police Chief Lou Jogmen, according to the release.

Highland Park is already using the Premise Alert Program, which helps inform cops about who in their community is non-verbal or has non-visible disabilities.

While police are working to understand how to apply law enforcement to people with non-visible disabilities, there is certainly work to do. The 2016 shooting of Charles Kinsey, an unarmed behavioral therapist working with his autistic patient, brought national attention to the issue of police-disabled citizen relations.

The Highland Park Police Department requests that business owners and residents that employ and live with people with non-visible disabilities fill out an informational form. The form will be confidential and used only to provide public safety responders important information about registered individuals.

If you want an identification bracelet, email City of Highland Park Police Detective Richard Rash at rrash@cityhpil.com with your contact info and a head shot of the individual.

The bracelets will be distributed by June 1.

For additional information, please contact the Highland Park Police Department at 847.432.7730 or www.cityhpil.com/policedepartment.

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