Another Disabled Life Lost to a Broken System
You may have heard about the horrific shooting
of an autistic 17-year-old, Anthony Perez, in Idaho on April 5th.
Here are two posts about this tragic killing.
"Risk was immediate," chief says.
Pocatello Police Chief Roger Schei said Perez did not comply with "repeated commands" to drop the knife.
"In situations like this, officers must make decisions in seconds," he said. "They assess threats not just to themselves but to those
nearby. In this case, two individuals were within a few feet of an armed, noncompliant individual. The risk was immediate and the situation rapidly evolving."
As a parent, I can't imagine what this family is going through. As an advocate, I see this as another example of the dangerous, deadly expectation placed on disabled people: comply immediately or risk being shot.
It assumes all bodies and brains move the same. It assumes fear justifies lethal force. It assumes compliance is more important than life.
This is why police and other first responders need mandatory, ongoing training in
how to recognize disability and de-escalate situations.
We cannot keep losing lives because someone couldn’t process fast enough, communicate clearly, or behave “typically” under stress.
If you have suggested curriculum or
training that has been used in your community that truly equips officers and other first responders to support disabled people without escalating to violence, please hit reply and share it with me. I'm complying resources to share and would love to know about successful programs.
We need to be loud, relentless advocates for change.
Because this isn’t just about one police department.
It’s about saving lives.
We stand together.
