PRESS RELEASE

New Sensory Training for Deputies

Tuesday May 28, 2024

The Etowah County Sheriff's Office says all deputies have now been Sensory Inclusive Certified through a partnership with Kulture City, according to Sheriff Jonathon Horton.

Kulture City is a local nonprofit organization promoting sensory awareness and inclusion for people with Autism or PTSD.

The training is intended to help deputies to better serve people on the autism spectrum, or with disabilities.  

Sheriff Jonathon Horton says "This training has allowed us to raise awareness for our deputies and get a better understanding of how to communicate with those on the spectrum. Most times, as law enforcement Officers our training tells us to look at body language and we look and see what they're doing. This training will help us to be mindful of those things and what we need to be looking for differently now. It caters to everyone with sensory needs not just autism. This includes military vets with PTSD, adults with dementia, Parkinson's disease, stroke patients just to name a few."

Deputies will now have a sensory inclusive bags in their vehicles, this will better help them serve the citizens of Etowah County.

Each Bag Should Include:

• Noise-Reducing Headphones (with bag) x1.
• Marble Fidget x1.
• Noodle Fidget x1.
• Tangle Fidget x1.
• Visual Cue Card x1.
• ID Card (breakaway lanyard) x1

Etowah County Sheriff's Office is now a Kulture City Certified Sensory Inclusive Venue.