OFFICIAL NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release

Friday, October 7, 2022, 1:30 p.m.

Belle Chasse, LA - On August 25, 2022, the Plaquemines Parish Sheriff's Office received a $25,000 donation from the Brandon Tompkins Fund that will be utilized to provide deputies with additional Autism training and education.

Brandon Tompkins presented Sheriff Jerry Turlich with the generous donation at the PPSO Administration Building in Belle Chasse as they discussed the most optimal ways of educating law enforcement officers and the general public when encountering individuals living with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Tompkins explained, "Having a son with Autism, I want him to always feel comfortable when interacting with police officers while assisting law enforcement officers with training that will help them identify and handle situations involving people with Autism."

Since receiving the donation, PPSO has scheduled mandatory Autism and Developmental Disability Awareness Training for all employees that will be administered by Interaction Advisory Group (IAG) and Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council. This training is specifically designed for first responders and will cover communication, de-escalation techniques, impact of sensory influences, search and rescue and best scene management practices. PPSO also purchased a VirTra V-100 training simulator featuring reality based Autism Spectrum Disorder scenarios developed by the Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center. Additionally, PPSO and IAG will be hosting a free Community Autism Awareness and Safety Training event on Tuesday, October 11, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Exceleration Church located at 7737 Highway 23 in Belle Chasse for the general public and education professionals.

"According to the Autism Society, more than 3.5 million Americans are living with an Autism Spectrum Disorder," said Sheriff Turlich. "Thanks to Brandon's donation, we can provide more comprehensive training for our deputies in the event they encounter an individual with Autism."

If you are interested in attending the free Community Autism Awareness and Safety Training, contact Captain Eric Becnel at 504-934-6904 or ebecnel@ppso.net to register.

#####

Contact Information:
Captain Chaun J. Domingue
Public Information Officer
Office: 504-934-6785
Email: cdomingue@ppso.net