Stearns County Sheriff’s Office Using ‘Sensory Bags’

(KNSI) – The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office has a new tool to help them respond to someone with Autism or Alzheimer’s.

The program involves sensory bags being carried by each officer in their squad car and specifically placed sensory bags in county buildings for use by officers.

Officials say interactions with people dealing with Autism or Alzheimer’s can be difficult and stressful for everyone involved, and sensory bags will hopefully bring calm to a situation.

The bags include silly putty, spinners, rubber balls, and other items that a person can manipulate and touch to bring about a sense of calm and distraction.

Sheriff Soyka says, “If an officer encounters a call for service in which a sensory bag would be of benefit, officers are encouraged to give the bag to the person. We now have over 70 bags that we can deploy with our officers on the streets of Stearns County.”

Sensory bags are not new to public safety, and many other law enforcement agencies around the United States use them.

The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office worked with the local Autism Awareness office to buy the sensory bags.

The Sheriff’s Office also received donations from Bayer Built (Belgrade), Collins Brothers Towing (St. Cloud), Greater MN Family Services, Central MN Mental Health, and Blattner Energy (Avon) for their generous donations.

A special thank you to the staff and kids at Northway Academy for donating their time in filling the bags.

The new program coincides with April being National Autism Awareness Month.

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