The Wauconda Police Department has initiated a program for its members to wear special blue badges to show their support for Autism Awareness Month in April.
Its 38 employees have purchased the badges to show support and understanding for individuals with autism, while promoting inclusion within the community, according to the department.
“We have several police officers that have kids with autism, so this is near and dear to our heart,” Police Chief David Wermes said. “There are different forms of autism. We saw that with kids in our law enforcement family and the families of community members. So, we thought … why not take the next step?”
Members of the Wauconda Police Department will wear special blue badges this month to show support for Autism Awareness Month. The 38 members of the department purchased the badges themselves as part of a grassroots initiative. (Wauconda Police Department)
The department already partners with the Wauconda parks and school districts for Cops vs. Kids on the second Friday of each month. That program has officers playing sports such as dodgeball, basketball, soccer, and floor hockey with area children.
The blue badge idea began as a grassroots effort, with 10% of the badge purchase price going toward autism awareness training for first responders.
“We canvassed a couple of badge companies, and these were all purchased by the individual officers,” Wermes said. “The total cost was approximately $4,000. A percentage of that amount goes to programs for law enforcement to educate themselves on how to handle and respond appropriately to people with this genetic disorder.”
One of the law enforcement programs is crisis intervention training, a 40-hour course that results in certification. Wermes said the department is currently at the 80% mark, with a target goal of, “having every sworn member get this training.”
“The village of Wauconda has a long history of supporting causes that impact our residents and community,” Mayor Jeff Sode said. “The blue badges for autism are just another example of the compassion our police department has for our friends and neighbors. We are proud to support these efforts.”
Sode also sponsored the motion for a proclamation to be introduced, designating April as Autism Awareness Month.
“The department’s blue badges show their commitment to supporting families and individuals impacted by autism,” Wauconda village administrator Allison Matson said. “I’m happy that our officers and department leadership have chosen this gesture to show our solidarity with the community, and raise awareness of the importance of early intervention.
“It also honors family members, teachers and others who support people with autism,” she said.
Autism, or autism spectrum disorder, encompasses a range of conditions marked by challenges with social skills, repetitive or echoed behavior, speech disabilities, information processing issues and the use of non-verbal communication, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
“There has been lots of support and positive feedback on social media,” Wermes said. This is the first time we’re doing this, and we want to make it an annual tradition.
“I say this, over and over,” he said. “Wauconda’s police department has one of the best relationships with the community that I have ever seen, and I’ve been in law enforcement for 38 years.”
