LYNN — Three Lynn police officers worked together to create and distribute autism patches to raise money for the Lynn Public Schools’ Creating Opportunities for Autistic Children (COACH) program and the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation.
Last summer, Lt. Larry Wentzell attended an event at Boston College that was hosted by the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation and discussed the Police Autism Program that officers around the country participate in.
As soon as he returned from the event, he started working with Officers Taylor Kulakowski and Mike Economou to design a Lynn Police Autism patch.
This design was then brought to Police Chief Christopher Reddy, who was supportive and approved the design.
Wentzell approached Simon’s Uniform in Lynn to produce the patch, and the first order of 500 patches was sold out in a month.
All of the proceeds will be split in half and donated to the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation and the COACH program at the end of April, which is Autism Awareness Month.
“I really wanted to try to keep this local, including a local business and a local cause with the COACH program,” Wentzell, who has a personal connection to the cause, said.
“I used to be a school-resource officer at both Thurgood Marshall Middle School and Lynn English High School, so I have a professional and personal connection with the schools and the COACH program.”
With Autism Awareness Month approaching, the officers hope this can help raise “awareness, acceptance and tolerance” of autism, which is what is written on the patch.
“There’s a saying in the autism community, ‘different, not less,'” Wentzell said. “It would be great if people take an opportunity to learn more about autism and what this phrase really means. Separate myth from fact. It’s not just one month.”
According to autismspeaks.org, one in 44 children and one in 45 adults are on the autism spectrum.
Based on his experience, Wentzell said the spectrum is an aspect of autism that many do not fully understand.
“There’s a lot of misinformation about what autism is,” Wentzell said. “I don’t think most people really understand it unless it touches you.”
The spectrum is complex, with autism ranging from high-functioning to non-verbal.
Police officers encounter people with autism, but if they don’t recognize the signs, Wentzell said they can be misinterpreted.
“That’s why the training is so important,” he said.
Officers undergo training in different areas to learn how to better deal with interpersonal communication, including with people with autism and mental-health issues.
“The trainings have been improving and the opportunities for us to learn about this are getting better,” Wentzell said. “I think it’s true for all of us to learn about this, not just police.”
Some signs of autism include non-verbal, not making eye contact, and involuntary muscle movements, also known as stimming.
To continue raising awareness about autism, the officers are hoping to keep the sale of this patch as an annual thing, donating every April to the two causes.
“We’re very happy to be able to partner with the Lynn Public Schools in this effort and hope to continue it,” Wentzell said. “The LPS Special Education Department and the COACH program in particular do great work.”
For those interested in purchasing a patch, email [email protected]. Patches can be purchased at any time as they are being made as they are sold.
