The Sutter County Sheriff’s Office has introduced a new program designed to make interactions between law enforcement and people with disabilities or other conditions safer and less stressful.
The initiative, called Blue Envelope, gives residents a brightly colored envelope to carry in their car or wallet. Inside, people can include information about their condition and specific needs — such as autism, dementia, anxiety, PTSD or other disabilities that might affect communication during a police stop.
Sutter County Sheriff’s Office information officer Sierra Pedley said the program helps bridge potential misunderstandings that could have serious consequences. She said she’s been reaching out to neighboring agencies to spread awareness, since Blue Envelopes aren’t yet widely recognized.
“I let them know we were launching this program so … if they ever encounter someone with a blue envelope I gave them all the additional information that they needed to be able to proceed with whatever they were doing,” Pedley said.
The program officially launched last month. Pedley said it’s been well received both within the department and by community members.
Other departments are already showing interest, and Pedley noted there are discussions in the law enforcement community about eventually expanding the program statewide.
