Montreal police program trains officers to better support autism community

Montreal police Chief Fady Dagher says he wants to change how his officers handle interventions with autistic people to be more "humane."

Montreal’s police service (SPVM) has launched a pilot project to provide more officers with training in dealing with people who have autism.

Called ‘AutSecours,’ the program was launched on Wednesday in conjunction with Giant Steps, a school for children and autistic adults.

The goal is for families of people with autism – especially those who are non-verbal and have trouble communicating – to share that information with police in advance.

That way, if officers are called to a home, they should know ahead of time what to expect.

This information may include communication preferences, sensory sensitivities, or specific support needs, allowing responders to adapt their approach.

“The fact that you’re going to have on the screen what he likes, what he doesn’t like, how to adopt your approach – honestly it’s a huge gain for the police,” said Montreal Police Chief Fady Dagher.

Dagher said this pilot project is part of a well-established partnership between the Montreal police and Giant Steps, which includes specialized training on autism and neurodiversity for police recruits, as well as immersion days at the centre.

“This long-standing partnership with the SPVM shows that ongoing dialogue and real-world experience can really change how things are done,” said Alain Beaudoin, executive director of Giant Steps, in a press release.

Beaudoin added that the pilot program “is a big step forward for people with autism and their families, promoting more humane and informed responses.”