11-29-2005, 08:51 AM
Death of autistic man calls for better police training
By Carrie J. Sidener
Statesville Record & Landmark
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
The 2004 death of a severely autistic man in Statesville has resulted in the establishment of a committee to study the training law enforcement officers and first-responders need to identify and deal with autism.
The N.C. General Assembly created a 20-member study committee tasked with studying the inclusion of autism education in public safety and basic law enforcement training. The committee will also look at the need to increase the access to training for law enforcement, public safety personnel, first responders, judges, district attorneys and magistrates.
The committee is part of an education mission that Superior Court Judge Kimberly Taylor embarked on after 44-year-old Sidney Templeton died in police custody in 2004.
Taylor’s 18-year-old son is also autistic.
“Not just during arrests, but victims of accidents may not be able to speak for themselves,” Taylor said. “We are trying to educate people and get some sort of consistent program in place. Some people know nothing about autism, some know a lot and some know a little.”
Templeton was Juanita Norman’s little brother. She said the committee’s work is important and needed.
“Any agency that deals with autism or anything that impairs a person where they can’t respond to verbal commands needs training,” Norman said. “I think it would be helpful for everyone to have that kind of training so they don’t violate a person’s rights.”
Autism is a developmental disability that impairs communication and social skills. Autism often results in a restricted range of behaviors, like hand-flapping or pacing. Temper tantrums are a common response to fear, confusion or frustration.
Sensory overload, such as flashing police lights, loud authoritative voices or commands, can cause autistic people to panic, run or fight.
One out of every 166 people is diagnosed with autism. It is usually diagnosed before age 3.
Templeton’s family says he might still be alive if law enforcement personnel had been better trained.
Statesville police officers were called to the house of Templeton’s mother, Mary, when he became upset with a new caseworker.
Police said later that Sidney assaulted the first officer on the scene, though his mother disagrees.
Templeton was taken into custody and was handcuffed at the wrists and ankles. He was put in the back of a patrol car with a plastic mask on his face to prevent him from spitting or biting.
Once at the jail, Sidney began vomiting and either inhaled it or choked on it. Officers performed CPR but couldn’t revive him. He was pronounced dead at Iredell Memorial Hospital.
The official determination was that he died of gastric aspiration as a result of severe anxiety due to his autism.
Statesville Police Chief Steve Hampton said the efforts of Taylor and others at the Autism Society of North Carolina have already prompted many changes in the education of law enforcement officers, including information in the basic law enforcement training.
“We are doing everything we can to get the information out,” Hampton said. “A lot of positive things have occurred.”
The 20-member study committee consists of four senators and four representatives. The rest are law enforcement, doctors and autism activists.
The committee’s first meeting is scheduled for Dec. 13. It will report to the General Assembly in May and again in December before being disbanded.
Sen. James Forrester (R-41st) was called to serve on the committee, as was Rep. Karen Ray (R-95th).
Betsy Thompson, director of advocacy services for the Autism Society of North Carolina, was also appointed to the committee.
“We are very excited,” she said. “I think it’s a wonderful opportunity to spread autism awareness, not only to law enforcement, but to other first-responders.”
Source: Statesville Record and Landmark
http://www.statesville.com/servlet/Satel...path=!news
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By Carrie J. Sidener
Statesville Record & Landmark
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
The 2004 death of a severely autistic man in Statesville has resulted in the establishment of a committee to study the training law enforcement officers and first-responders need to identify and deal with autism.
The N.C. General Assembly created a 20-member study committee tasked with studying the inclusion of autism education in public safety and basic law enforcement training. The committee will also look at the need to increase the access to training for law enforcement, public safety personnel, first responders, judges, district attorneys and magistrates.
The committee is part of an education mission that Superior Court Judge Kimberly Taylor embarked on after 44-year-old Sidney Templeton died in police custody in 2004.
Taylor’s 18-year-old son is also autistic.
“Not just during arrests, but victims of accidents may not be able to speak for themselves,” Taylor said. “We are trying to educate people and get some sort of consistent program in place. Some people know nothing about autism, some know a lot and some know a little.”
Templeton was Juanita Norman’s little brother. She said the committee’s work is important and needed.
“Any agency that deals with autism or anything that impairs a person where they can’t respond to verbal commands needs training,” Norman said. “I think it would be helpful for everyone to have that kind of training so they don’t violate a person’s rights.”
Autism is a developmental disability that impairs communication and social skills. Autism often results in a restricted range of behaviors, like hand-flapping or pacing. Temper tantrums are a common response to fear, confusion or frustration.
Sensory overload, such as flashing police lights, loud authoritative voices or commands, can cause autistic people to panic, run or fight.
One out of every 166 people is diagnosed with autism. It is usually diagnosed before age 3.
Templeton’s family says he might still be alive if law enforcement personnel had been better trained.
Statesville police officers were called to the house of Templeton’s mother, Mary, when he became upset with a new caseworker.
Police said later that Sidney assaulted the first officer on the scene, though his mother disagrees.
Templeton was taken into custody and was handcuffed at the wrists and ankles. He was put in the back of a patrol car with a plastic mask on his face to prevent him from spitting or biting.
Once at the jail, Sidney began vomiting and either inhaled it or choked on it. Officers performed CPR but couldn’t revive him. He was pronounced dead at Iredell Memorial Hospital.
The official determination was that he died of gastric aspiration as a result of severe anxiety due to his autism.
Statesville Police Chief Steve Hampton said the efforts of Taylor and others at the Autism Society of North Carolina have already prompted many changes in the education of law enforcement officers, including information in the basic law enforcement training.
“We are doing everything we can to get the information out,” Hampton said. “A lot of positive things have occurred.”
The 20-member study committee consists of four senators and four representatives. The rest are law enforcement, doctors and autism activists.
The committee’s first meeting is scheduled for Dec. 13. It will report to the General Assembly in May and again in December before being disbanded.
Sen. James Forrester (R-41st) was called to serve on the committee, as was Rep. Karen Ray (R-95th).
Betsy Thompson, director of advocacy services for the Autism Society of North Carolina, was also appointed to the committee.
“We are very excited,” she said. “I think it’s a wonderful opportunity to spread autism awareness, not only to law enforcement, but to other first-responders.”
Source: Statesville Record and Landmark
http://www.statesville.com/servlet/Satel...path=!news
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