Quattrone Unveils 'Friends of the Sheriff' Special Needs Support Program

A new initiative by the Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office aims to help its deputies more safely and effectively respond to calls involving people with special needs. Sheriff Jim Quattrone announced the launch of "Friends of the Sheriff" during a news conference in Mayville on Wednesday. Quattrone says the initiative will provide deputies tools to better understand individuals with special needs before responding to a call. He says there have been unfortunate incidents involving people with autism...

Jim Quattrone: unfortunate incidents involving people with autism

Quattrone says a distinctive decal will be provided to those who participate in the program...

Jim Quattrone: decay to help notify

Caregivers are invited to voluntarily share key information about individuals in their household with special needs -- such as sensory sensitivities, triggers, or calming techniques. According to Quattrone, this information is securely entered into the Sheriff's Office computer-aided dispatch system and flagged to alert responding deputies.

For more information about the "Friends of the Sheriff" program or to request a form, call the Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office at (716) 753-4900 or visit sheriff.us.

Photo and audio from Chautauqua County Government