Following the successful recovery of a missing 6-year-old autistic non-verbal child who was discovered in a pond behind the Germantown Library, Montgomery County Police emphasized the department’s continued outreach and support for families through its Autism/IDD Unit and issued fresh reminders of the significance of dialing 9-1-1 right away in such situations.
MCPD reports that at around 5:40 p.m. on Wednesday, August 6, a person reported that their child had been missing for roughly 45 minutes, prompting police to be sent to the 19800 block of Century Blvd. The parent revealed that although the youngster has previously wandered off, they were unsure of the exact direction he might have taken this time. A member of the community informed a 5th District officer that they had recently spotted a child close to a pond behind the library as additional cops came to assist with the search. The youngster was playing in the water when the officer arrived at the pond. The youngster was brought to safety by the officer who entered the water. After evaluating the infant, Montgomery County Fire Rescue officials concluded he was unharmed.
The boy’s lack of swimming skills and the fact that the pond’s water level was below normal at the time of the occurrence were later discovered by the officers.According to Officer Laurie Reyes of the department’s Autism/Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Unit, this could have turned out quite differently. We can’t stress this enough: contact 9-1-1 immediately if someone with autism or similar developmental condition disappears. Every minute counts.
According to Officer Reyes, MCPD officers find three to eight individuals on the autistic spectrum on average every week.According to Reyes, in over half of these situations, caregivers wait before requesting assistance. Anyone can experience this. even the most devoted parents. It’s crucial to make the call as quickly as possible, even when we know they’re doing their best.
Water frequently appeals to autistic children. The police department provides families with free safety kits to assist prevent wandering. The kits come with window decals, a unique MCPD T-shirt, and additional safety equipment for kids.Along with their families and the community, people with autism and other developmental disorders can receive training, outreach, and support from the IDD Unit. The unit’s Facebook page has other details as well.
