The Eureka Police Department is joining the city of Rio Dell and Cal Poly Humboldt in adopting the Blue Envelope Program, which aims to help law enforcement officers easily identify if an individual may have a condition or disability that impacts their ability to communication or requires additional accommodations.
Today, EPD will have a roll-out event at the Wharfinger Building from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The Redwood Coast Regional Center, which has been collaborating with local jurisdictions to start up the voluntary program, will also be in attendance, along with representatives of the Arcata, Fortuna, Ferndale, Blue Lake Tribal and Cal Poly Humboldt police departments, the California Highway Patrol and the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office.
“Law enforcement agencies nationwide have adopted the Blue Envelope Program as part of a broader effort to build awareness and foster positive interactions between officers and individuals with communication challenges,” the department’s new release states. “By working together, local agencies hope to expand this important program across Humboldt County to ensure safer, more compassionate encounters for everyone on the road — and beyond.”
As its name suggests, participants are given a blue envelope with printed instructions on what to do if they get pulled over, including to present important documents — their insurance and vehicle registration — to the officer making contact.
The blue envelope also acts as a visual cue, letting officers know an individual they are interacting with may respond differently than expected. For example, if an officer in a participating jurisdiction pulls someone over with a blue envelope sticker on their car, the symbol would alert the officer that the individual may not respond in the same manner others usually do during stops.
(Read more about the program used across the nation here.)
Blue envelopes and other items, including stickers, buttons, lanyards and keyrings with a blue envelope symbol, will be available at the event.
“The main thing is just to interact with the law enforcement,” Public Information Officer Laura Montagna told the Journal.
She said there will be mock scenarios on what would occur if a driver were pulled over or if an officer requested to speak to someone on the street.
Montagna recounted an incident involving a misunderstanding last month that could have been resolved by the program. In that case, she said, the officer gave instructions to a driver who was pulled over but the individual was deaf and could not hear the order.
“ If this person had like a key fob on their jacket, the bracelet, or maybe their backpack had the blue envelope, they would’ve pulled that out,” Montagna said. “ Instead of the officer getting upset with them for not complying, they go, ‘Oh, I need to take a minute and see what this issue is.’ So it’s to smooth out communication.”
Montagna said that EPD officers followed the training bulletin from the county of San Bernardino and also received training from Ron Lee, the emergency management coordinator at RCRC.
EPD will not be logging individuals who participate in the Blue Envelope program.
However, Montagna said the police department does have a special consideration forms that allows individuals to provide information related to disabilities, sensitivities and specific needs that may prove helpful to first responders in the case of an interaction.
“ This will help whoever encounters the person [to] know what [their] triggers are or who to contact,” Montagna said. “We’re offering that, but it is by no means a requirement.”
The special consideration form will also be available during the event on Wednesday.
After the event, Blue Envelope supplies can be picked up at the Eureka Police Station or at RCRC, located at 525 Second St., according to Montagna.