Captain James Dimmitt (left) and Dr. Lauren Libero at the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) in West Sacramento in March.
Members of our team joined other experts and police to help create new safety guidelines for people who wander.
Dr. Lauren Libero, Autism Program Specialist, and Captain James Dimmitt of the Office of Protective Services, recently joined a workgroup at the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) headquarters in West Sacramento. From March 25–27, 2025, they worked with local and state law enforcement, people with lived experiences, and advocacy organizations to develop new guidelines to aid law enforcement officers with finding and safely assisting individuals with autism, Alzheimer’s disease, or dementia who have gone missing.
POST is a state commission that oversees and develops training standards for California law enforcement agencies and peace officers.
Supporting Better Training On World Alzheimer’s Day (September 21, 2024), Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 2541 into law, requiring POST to create clear guidelines on how officers should respond to these situations. The guidelines must be completed by January 1, 2026, and will cover:
- Steps for officers to follow when searching for a missing person
- How to use tools like search-and-rescue dogs to help locate individuals
- Community awareness campaigns to educate the public
- Technology solutions to track individuals and prevent wandering
- Better coordination between police, first responders, hospitals, and transportation services
Why These Guidelines Matter
About half of individuals with autism wander. These situations may lead to accidental drownings, the leading cause of death for children under 14 with autism. Wandering also greatly increases the chances of an individual interacting with police officers. By improving training and resources, police officers will be better prepared to handle these situations with care and understanding.
