Law Enforcement Resources
Building Bridges: Partnering with Cincinnati Children's to Better Equip Law Enforcement
Today, we had the privilege of meeting with leaders from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital to discuss a shared goal: ensuring law enforcement officers are better equipped to serve, protect, and interact with individuals who have developmental disabilities.
Our EmPath Board President, Leslie Williams, and Board Treasurer, Charlie Watson, met with Dr. Ilka K. Riddle, Erica Harris, and Doug Martin to explore how education and resources can create safer, more informed interactions between first responders and members of our community living with disabilities.
Erica Harris shared incredible insight into the work she’s doing to support this mission. Her approach begins with a disability overview to assess current knowledge and understanding among officers.
She’s developed comprehensive training manuals and conducts in-person sessions that are rooted in empathy and scenario-based learning. Her work doesn’t stop with law enforcement—it extends throughout the justice system. She’s developed resources and guidance for how to support individuals with developmental disabilities whether they’re a suspect, victim, or witness in a criminal case. It was clear that her goal is to bring compassion and clarity to every step of the process.
She also reminded us how vital it is to educate not just the responders, but also individuals with developmental disabilities and their caregivers. Erica encourages families to introduce their loved ones to first responders in non-emergency situations to build familiarity, reduce fear, and create positive experiences. We couldn’t agree more.
Leslie shared her personal experiences with Jagger, to echo the importance of these proactive introductions. Jagger regularly interacts with local police and fire departments, and those relationships have created a sense of comfort and connection. The officers know Jagger, and Jagger knows them. That kind of familiarity can make all the difference in a high-stress situation.
Leslie also brought up the Blue Envelope initiative used in Springboro—a tool designed to help drivers with developmental disabilities communicate more easily with police during traffic stops. We discussed how valuable it would be to see similar tools available more broadly across Ohio and beyond.
During our conversation, we also discussed the 988 crisis hotline, a vital mental health resource that serves as an alternative to 911. Where 911 connects individuals to police, fire, and EMS, 988 connects them to trained mental health professionals—an essential support option for people in emotional distress, those experiencing suicidal thoughts, or those with developmental or cognitive disabilities in crisis. Raising awareness about 988 is key to building a stronger safety net for everyone.
We explored the idea of future lobbying efforts to help establish systems that inform first responders about potential developmental disabilities—especially during first interactions or traffic stops. We know this kind of change could be lifesaving.
We also shared updates on our JagTag campaign, our initiative to help alert first responders that someone may have a developmental disability. We talked about upcoming enhancements and how we can continue evolving the JagTag to improve safety and support.
To wrap up an already powerful meeting, we learned that Erica will be presenting at the 2025 Two Days in May Conference hosted by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. She’ll be taking JagTag information with her to share with professionals across the state—a huge opportunity to raise awareness and expand our reach. You can learn more about the event here: Two Days in May 2025.
We left today’s meeting feeling inspired and energized. Collaborations like this are what help drive meaningful change. We’re so grateful to Dr. Riddle, Erica, and Doug for the work they’re doing—and for inviting us into the conversation. Together, we’re building bridges between communities, law enforcement, and individuals with developmental disabilities.
We’re committed to continuing this work, growing our JagTag initiative, advocating for systemic change, and most importantly—elevating the voices of the people we serve.