28-05-2025
New Calera program aims to help law enforcement responses
CALERA, Ala. (WIAT) — A new program in Calera aims to help first responders provide better care for the community.
The C.A.R.E. Network stands for Calera Awareness and Response for Everyone. A Calera dispatcher designed it to help give better responses to those with mental illnesses and disabilities.
'I've worked at a few different law enforcement agencies, but that's one thing I've always felt was a need was a way that we could communicate and maintain our safety and our relationships with our entire community, including our special needs community,' said Jessica Davis, the brain behind the C.A.R.E. Network.
C.A.R.E. gives people in the community the ability to fill out a form for the police and fire departments letting them know of any mental illnesses or disabilities. This includes anything from Alzheimer's disease to autism spectrum disorder to Down syndrome to mobility, hearing, vision and speech impairments. By filling the application out, dispatchers can let police officers and firefighters know exactly what they'll be walking in to.
'It's went further so far than I originally anticipated it to,' Davis said. 'Within an hour and a half [on the first day], I believe, we had over 20 applicants for the program and then now, I've had a few different agencies, other law enforcement agencies, reach out to me about how we went about setting this program up and the things that we're doing now to get it out there and make sure our citizens know about it.'
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Calera Police Chief David Hyche was immediately on board with Davis' idea. For him, this program is personal.
'I have a special needs daughter, and I remember when she was younger, a big concern that my wife and I had was that if we had a tragic event happen at our house or in the vehicle, law enforcement or fire services might not know how to communicate with her,' Hyche said. 'She's blind and autistic, so a firefighter in their gear or a police officer, it would be unusual sounds and touch, and the feel and the sound of a firefighter in turnout gear would be like a monster to her.'
Hyche said it's voluntary to fill out the C.A.R.E. Network application, and information is kept private in the system.
'The more information we can have here at the police department, the better and the safer for everyone,' he said. 'It's really used just to make it safer for both the officers as well as the families.'
Hyche said he's already talked with some lawmakers and hopes to see this program go statewide.
'My daughter was a part of several different organizations, and I've been around a lot of autistic adults and children,' Hyche said. 'I could see how their misinterpretation of signals could be seen by law enforcement as aggressive or hostile, and the law enforcement officer might not know any different. These are absolutely signals that 'I am in danger,' when in reality it might just be the way that the autistic person responds to certain stimuli.'
If you would like to be a part of the C.A.R.E. Network, you can fill out an application here or in person at the Calera Police Department.
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