Flyer information regarding the BPD Autism Awareness Decal Program:
These decals, if placed on vehicles or homes in the City of Boulder, will alert officers that someone associated with the vehicle or home may be autistic.
This helps officers better understand certain behaviors with the goal of creating a safe and secure scene for all:
- Pulling away from an officer who might need to physically redirect someone - Often misinterpreted as resistance
- Sudden moves, or unpredictable/unexpected movement - Often misinterpreted as a threat
- Lack of eye contact - Often misinterpreted as reluctance to engage with the officer, based on the reason for contact
- Lack of verbal response to questions by an officer - Often misinterpreted as unwillingness to cooperate
Decal Choices
Choose the version you prefer. We understand there is controversy surrounding these symbols and we gathered feedback from the autism community and associated individuals which influenced the decision to offer both. Thank you for your understanding and for choosing the option that you want.
The Boulder Police Department offers two autism awareness decals:
The Infinity Symbol
Puzzle Piece Symbol
Important Reminders
We believe this decal program will help us better meet the needs of everyone involved in a police interaction, but we also want to be clear about three things:
- Like all community members, individuals with autism are still expected to follow the law.
- There could be times when officers still need to use appropriate safety measures, including reasonable use of force, to keep everyone involved safe.
- This is a new program and while Boulder officers will be gaining awareness around the decal and what it means, officers from other agencies or jurisdictions may not recognize the symbol or the intent behind the decal.