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CLEARFIELD — Clearfield Police Sgt. Chris Ferrera wants people with disabilities to know that police officers are there to help them.
Ferrera, along with Clearfield police detective Heather Arnell and Layton police officer KC Jones, spoke Thursday to about 20 clients of Buddies4Life, a resource center for people with disabilities in Clearfield.
The visit was arranged by Weber State University sociology students in an effort to foster better relationships between police and people with disabilities.
Ferrera, Arnell and Jones described various ways police officers help community members, such as responding to car accidents, giving medical aid and taking lost people home.
Ferrera asked the Buddies4Life clients if they'd had good experiences with police officers, then if they'd had bad experiences with police officers. About half of the group raised their hands for each question.
"I have (had bad experiences with police officers), too," Ferrara said. "That's ... the reason we're here. We want you guys to know that we're here to help you."
The clients asked questions about topics like police dogs, drunk drivers and seat belt safety. They also shared personal experiences like times they were in car accidents or saw family members get hurt.
Arnell, who specializes in working with people who have autism, said these types of events are important because they give people with disabilities a chance to have a good interaction with police officers. That positive interaction can be the difference between people with disabilities calling police during an emergency or being afraid to call, she said.
Weber State University sociology student Taylor Allen added that these events are important for police officers, too, because they help officers understand that people communicate in a variety of ways.
Though Thursday's event was arranged as part of a class assignment, she's hopeful that Buddies4Life will keep the program going by inviting officers back every six months.
Kari Broderick, another WSU sociology student, said it's not always immediately obvious to a police if a person is under the influence or if they simply have a disability. That misunderstanding can sometimes create situations that worsen rather than deescalate the problem, she said. For instance, Broderick said police might choose to restrain someone with a disability instead of helping them calm down.
Restraining a person with disabilities should be a "last resort," said Buddies4Life co-founder Andrew Brinton. While specific strategies vary, it's important that police give people with disabilities space to calm down before intervening, he said.
Brinton's knowledge comes from his 14 years as a special education teacher and from raising three kids who have autism. He and his wife, Tresa, started Buddies4Life in 2019. They now work with around 50 clients, some of whom participate in their facility's day programs and some of whom live in group homes or host homes.
Their Clearfield building includes exercise areas, a stage for performances, a sensory room with lower light levels, and an employment preparation room where clients can practice interviewing for jobs.
Their goal, Brinton said, is to help each client achieve an independent, meaningful life. That's why they spend a lot of time helping clients gain skills that will allow them to volunteer or hold jobs, complete tasks like grocery shopping, and otherwise be participating members of society, he said.
"Our vision is to create a culture of love and connectedness," Brinton said. "We have just been so blessed to work with these individuals."
One of those clients is Grace, who talked excitedly Thursday about her experiences with Buddies4Life. She loves the staff and jumping on the facility's trampoline. Previously, she's held jobs with dog grooming business the Paw Spa and with Burger King. Grace is currently looking for new work opportunities, she said, and she'll also begin volunteering with an animal shelter soon.
Brinton said if community members want to support Buddies4Life, they can donate items from the group's Amazon wishlist. Buddies4Life is also interested in local organizations that want to engage with their clients, particularly when there are potential career tie-ins, he said.
"These kids are so interested in learning and asking questions," Brinton said.
