Edison Police Kick Off Autism Awareness Month With Special Program

EDISON, NJ — April is World Autism Awareness month and the Edison Police Department will be recognizing this month with the relaunch of its Safe and Sound Program.

The police department has also purchased special decals and seatbelt covers for residents, so officers know when a driver or passenger in a vehicle has autism. Autism awareness decals will also be placed on all the marked cruisers of the police department.

“It is a really great tool our officers can use to determine the needs of the driver or passenger,” Sgt. Donald Ship of the Community Oriented Policing Unit said. “For instance, a driver or passenger with autism may be reluctant to your offer for help, may not recognize danger, or maybe at risk of wandering when removed from the vehicle.”

The program is a joint effort between the Traffic Unit and the Community Oriented Policing Unit which are commanded by Deputy Chief Robert J. Dudash, Jr.

The police department has collaborated with Edison P.B.A. Local 75 and from local businesses namely, Inman Sports Complex and TJM Controls, for the decals and seat covers.

The idea for the program was first proposed by Officers Michael Piperato and Michael Winters. An audit was conducted of the Safe and Sound Program and it was determined that a relaunch is needed. The audit found that April was the perfect month to relaunch the program.

The Safe and Sound Program hopes to make the community aware of this service offered by the Edison Police Department. This program will assist individuals who are unable to communicate and who may lose the ability to recognize familiar locations or individuals.

Those who wish to enroll in the program should contact the Community Oriented Policing Unit by calling (732) 248-6462 for a preliminary screening. An application must be returned in person to the Community Oriented Policing Unit, 100 Municipal Blvd., Edison, NJ. For more information, e-mail COP@edisonpd.org.

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