When law enforcement officers encounter individuals with autism, split-second decisions can mean the difference between safety and tragedy. Recent incidents across the U.S., including one in Idaho this year where a teen with autism lost his life, highlight the urgent need for better training.
In April 2025, four police officers in Pocatello, ID shot a 17-year-old boy with autism while responding to a disturbance. The teen later died after he was declared clinically brain dead and the family decided to take him off life support.
Just this week, it was announced the four officers will not face criminal charges for what took place during the encounter.
In a letter obtained by CBS News, Idaho’s Deputy Attorney General Jeff Nye wrote:
“The officers’ knowledge was limited to what dispatch reported, and dispatch’s knowledge was limited to what the 911 caller reported. Neither the 911 caller, dispatch, nor the officers were aware of Perez’s age or his disabilities. Instead, the officers were told they were heading into a disturbance where an intoxicated male was trying to stab others with a knife.”
However, this is why training matters. And it’s why walking into a situation adequately prepared can often be the only difference between life or death. Not only for law enforcement, but citizens too.
Although the officers’ knowledge about the boy’s Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) was limited because they weren’t told anything by dispatch … there was still an avenue for them to react differently. Having the proper training and knowing what to look for is the first step in saving lives.
With autism affecting 1 in every 31 children in the United States, it’s imperative that police officers receive specialized training to recognize the signs of autism and respond appropriately. After all, why wouldn’t a department do everything they can to ensure every interaction is handled with safety, dignity, and understanding?
That’s why, in 2018, VirTra partnered with the Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC) to introduce new Autism Awareness Curriculum within our training simulators.
The decision to create this subject material stemmed from a 2017 incident in Arizona that resulted in a 14-year-old boy with autism being physically harmed by an officer.
VirTra saw a critical opportunity to help prevent more tragic outcomes. Our technology was already advancing de-escalation tactics, but we needed to make it even more inclusive and impactful.
We reached out to Danny Openden, President and CEO of SARRC, to form a partnership. Together, we designed specialized autism awareness curriculum that gives officers practical tools to respond with understanding, safety, and effectiveness.
The first module was centered on teens with autism, and helping police officers identify signs and symptoms when responding to a call.
The second module, developed three years later, focuses on scenarios involving adults with autism. VirTra collaborated with an advocacy group from SARRC to incorporate their scenario ideas, recommended dialogue for the officers, and important context clues to watch for:
“We’re not trying to assume anything,” Bartel said. “All I want officers to do is go, ‘maybe.’ Because if they at least take into consideration that maybe that’s part of the puzzle piece I have in front of me. they are more likely to engage in a way that’s appropriate.”
Without proper training, officers may mistake autistic behaviors for suspicious or defiant behavior.
As we know, officers act on the training they are given. Without autism awareness training, even well-intentioned officers may misread behaviors, leading to outcomes that harm both the individual and community trust.
VirTra’s Certified Autism Training for Law Enforcement
To bridge this gap, VirTra created the Autism Awareness V-VICTA® curriculum, developed in partnership with SARRC. This NCP-certified program provides 2 hours of immersive, scenario-based training designed specifically for law enforcement.
What sets VirTra’s autism training apart is its combination of expert-backed education and hands-on simulation:
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Realism: All video walkthroughs and scenarios feature real people with autism, providing officers with authentic examples of behaviors they may encounter.
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Immersion: Training is delivered through VirTra’s state-of-the-art simulators, allowing officers to practice responses in a realistic, safe environment.
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Guided Expertise: Instruction includes insights from SARRC CEO Daniel Openden, ensuring the curriculum reflects the most accurate and compassionate approaches.
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Practical Tools: Departments receive lesson plans, testing materials, class rosters, surveys, and more. This makes the program easy to implement.
Listen to Jerome Police Chief, Allen Muma, discuss the impact of VirTra’s Autism Awareness Curriculum:
Schedule a Demo to see the scenarios
Book a demo with us to experience the Autism practice scenarios. Learn how VirTra equips officers with the skills to recognize, respond, and build trust with individuals on the spectrum.