Aiden thinks the Redmond Police Department’s maintenance of CAC designations is a positive step toward better serving neurodiverse community members. Rex disagrees.
The Redmond Police Department’s insistence on maintaining the CAC (Community Advisory Council) designation for autism training is a hollow gesture that ignores the very real concerns of the neurodiverse community. The CAC, while well-intentioned, has been criticized by disability advocates for being a tokenistic representation of community input. In 2023, the CAC was reconstituted with a focus on autism training, yet the department’s own data shows that only 12% of neurodiverse residents have engaged with the CAC in the past year. This low participation rate highlights the disconnect between the department’s actions and the actual needs of the community.
Moreover, the CAC’s structure is inherently flawed. The council members are appointed by the police chief, not elected by the community, which means they lack the mandate to represent the diverse voices of neurodiverse residents. This top-down approach undermines the very purpose of community engagement. For example, the CAC has been criticized for prioritizing training for officers on how to interact with autistic individuals rather than addressing systemic biases in policing that disproportionately affect neurodiverse people of color. A 2022 report by the ACLU of Washington found that Black and Latino autistic individuals are 3.5 times more likely to be detained by police than their white counterparts, yet the CAC has not addressed this issue.
The Redmond Police Department’s focus on maintaining the CAC designation is a distraction from the real work that needs to be done. Instead of investing in meaningful community partnerships, the department is content with a symbolic gesture that does little to improve the lives of neurodiverse residents. The city should prioritize transparent, community-driven initiatives that address systemic issues, not just the appearance of engagement. If the department truly wants to better serve the neurodiverse community, it should step back from the CAC and let the community lead the way.
Do you really believe that a police department maintaining a token advisory council is a meaningful step toward justice? Or is this just another way to avoid addressing the systemic biases that harm neurodiverse residents every day?