Young Man With Autism On Mission To Help Police Deal With People On The Spectrum

After almost four and a half years of visiting police departments in five states, including Newtown Township, Alex Mann rolled into Tullytown Borough early last Friday afternoon for stop No. 322.

Much like the previous 321 visits, Mann – who is autistic – stopped by to show his appreciation for police and the dangerous jobs they do, but also to offer some advice on how to handle possible encounters with people on the autism spectrum.

While there, Mann, 23, gave Tullytown officers some tips, answered many questions, got a complete tour of the department led by Sgt. Andrew Bunda, and enjoyed lunch – Italian hoagies from Mazzanti’s in Bristol Borough – with Bunda, several other officers, Mayor David Cutchineal and other borough officials. Mann left with a certificate of appreciation from the borough, a Tullytown police shoulder patch and other gifts.

Mann, a resident of Malvern in Chester County and a 2018 graduate of Great Valley High School, said he started the visits to police departments in 2018 as a way to show his appreciation and respect and they soon grew into mini educational sessions on dealing with people with autism. He has visited police forces in Southeastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and California, where he has another home.

In Bucks County alone, among his stops in addition to Tullytown have been the Bensalem, Bristol Township, Falls, Lower Southampton, Middletown, Newtown Township and Upper Southampton departments. Mann said he believes both he and the police he has spoken with have gotten a lot out of the sessions.

“Absolutely, ” noted Mann, who said his full-time job is being a contractor for the government. “I can definitely tell it has a positive impact because I have officers reaching out to me after I’ve visited asking me to come back or asking for more advice. It’s really amazing. “

In offering tips to Tullytown officers, he gave the example of a borough cop stopping him for speeding or some other violation.

“People on the autism spectrum like to think very logically, step by step, ” Mann said. “If an officer pulled me over, I would want every little detail explained of what has happening, every step. What paperwork are you doing? How long will it take? Any little detail can help suppress a meltdown.

“Speak quietly and calmly, and if you can turn some of the lights on the vehicle off. That can be over stimulating to people on the spectrum. They may need an extra special level of comfort. “

What if you witness someone with autism having a meltdown, one officer asked Mann.

“First of all, wait, ” he responded. “Wait until a parent or other close relative says it’s OK, or wait until you’ve made a complete evaluation that it’s OK to approach. “

Mann said he has put together a complete instructional course on how to best handle encounters with people with autism, and when Bunda asked if Mann could come back someday to lay it out for Tullytown police, Mann seemed agreeable.

“I’m glad Alex reached out to us and had the interest to come to our department to spread awareness for autism, ” said Bunda, the officer in charge of the Tullytown department in the current absence of a police chief. “I would definitely love to have him back to speak to the other officers who couldn’t make it today. As an officer, it definitely opens your eyes to dealing with individuals that have the disability, and the pointers Alex gave could definitely help us out.”

Newtown Township Police Chief John Hearn wrote in an email to NewtownPANow.com that Mann’s February 2022 visit to that department was very rewarding for both Mann and the officers.

“Police are trained to respond to a crisis situation, but they need to always consider normal response protocols may not always be the best way to interact with people with autism, ” Hearn stated. “It is critical that these officers have a working knowledge of autism, and the wide variety of behaviors people with autism can exhibit in emergency situations.

“They may wander toward water, traffic or other dangers, be overwhelmed by a large police presence, have a curiosity about an officer’s equipment and reach for it. They may not respond to verbal commands, and may engage in repetitive behavior. All of these factors need to be considered when dealing with a person with autism. “

Mann went through those possibilities on his Newtown Township stop, Hearn wrote.

“As the chief of police and having an adult nephew who is autistic, I have a personal and professional reason to educate my officers on things to look for, as well as indicators which provide officers with the opportunity to slow the situation down, use simple words, and allow time for the person to respond, ” he stated.

Mann said during his afternoon Tullytown visit that all his trips to police departments over the years have racked up quite a gas bill.

“Yes, but luckily my car gets 33 miles a gallon, ” he added with a smile. “It’s been an amazing ride. “