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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Utah Transit Authority has implemented a program to train all of its transit police officers to recognize "invisible disabilities" such as autism that often influences the behavior of individuals who use mass transportation.
The Deseret News reports Transit Police Chief Fred Ross says each officer, as part of their initial training, receives specialized training to identify and assist riders with autism and other types of disabilities.
Ross says the training teaches officers how to distinguish between riders with disabilities who may need assistance and those intentionally evading police or who simply refuse to follow police commands.
Ross says he first developed the program in his previous position as a deputy chief with Salt Lake City police and brought it along to the new department.
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Information from: Deseret News, http://www.deseretnews.com
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