Dover police get autism training

DOVER

Two Dover police officers have been trained in how to handle situations involving people with autism in recent months, Police Chief Joseph Griffin said recently.

The officers learned that autistic people are seven times more likely to have an encounter with police than other individuals, and were taught how to detect the disorder and properly approach people who suffer from it. The program was offered through a collaboration between Norfolk District Attorney William Keating, the South Norfolk County Association for Retarded Children and several local police and fire departments.

Griffin said he may send more officers if such programs are offered again in the future.

-— Kyle Alspach