Kits hoped to bridge gaps between cognitively impaired and police in Lawton

With a recent missing person’s case involving an autistic man, joined with training last month by the Lawton Police Department, Thursday’s implementation of sensory kit bags is hoped to help bridge the gap between officers and cognitively impaired people.

Sgt. Christopher Blessing, LPD’s information officer, said the kits are intended to bring peace for autistic people during troubling circumstances.

“It helps calm them down and brings some normality to the situation,” he said.

Lt. John Schwenk Jr. said the idea sprang during a February training for dealing with autistic people and, with April being Autism Awareness Month, the time was right to act. A video shown as part of the training showed how the kits had been implemented in other departments.

The kits contain items like sunglasses and noise canceling headphones, puzzles, flash cards to assist with communication and a weighted pillow meant to offset sensory overload, Schwenk said.

“It helps us to be better prepared and better ready,” he said.

Following training, a need was seen and that’s when other officers and community donors stepped in to help fulfill the vision, according to Schwenk. He said Detective Josh Gardner hit the ground running with the mission.

“Gardner saw that and he had an idea,” he said. “He went to round up donors.”

Detective Donald Pauley credited Gardner with gathering $500 in donations from the community. Pauley, the president of the local Fraternal Order of Police, made sure the FOP matched the $500 donation. With that, the Lawton Police Officers Association chipped in another $250 and that allowed the department to order 13 of the kits from the Autism Foundation of Oklahoma, he said.

Of those kits, 12 will be with patrol teams each shift and one will remain in the Criminal Investigation Division. Schwenk said sometimes a person with a neurocognitive disability is a witness, suspect or are even brought in the care of someone speaking with detectives. It helps to build a rapport.

“It can help offset a sensory overload,” he said, “be it noise or lights or what have you. … It can help calm them.”

Although the kits weren’t available when Thomas Rash Jr., 29, was reported missing on Saturday, they will help someone in the future, Schwenk said. He noted the number of missing person with autism calls jumped from two in 2022 to 12 last year. The Centers of Disease Control reported 1 in 36 kids had a form of autism in 2020, a jump from 1 in 44 is 2018. Schwnk expects 2022’s statistics will show the gap closing even further.

Gathering community donations and resources allows for officers to get the tools they sometimes need into the field in between budget submittals and allotments, Pauley said.

“We’re just happy to provide officers with the tools for a situation,” he said. “Anytime we’re able to provide the tools, we’re happy to do it.”

Pauley said if community partners would like to contribute for further police resources, to contact Blessing, 580-917-1746; or email: [email protected].