Maryland Police Training Commission Adopts Training Objectives

by Kevin McManus from 930 WFMD Free Talk:
Proposals to help improve training of police officers when dealing with persons with disabilities were adopted last week by the Maryland Police Training Commission. The recommendations, from the Commission for Effective Community Inclusion of Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (the Inclusion Commission), are expected to be incorporated into training programs for law enforcement recruits, according to George Failla, the Acting Secretary of the Maryland Department of Disabilities.
"As we move forward with the next academy or set of academy training sessions for the new recruits, all different academies will need to meet these training objectives," says Failla.
The Inclusion Commission was set up last year by the Governor following the death of Ethan Saylor of New Market. He died following a struggle with off-duty Sheriff's Deputies who were trying to remove him from a movie theater. Saylor had Down Syndrome.

Delaware and Maryland join Massachusetts and Kentucky in enacting laws to provide information with a Down syndrome test result

by Mark Leach from Down Syndrome Prenatal Testing:

Last week, Governor O’Malley of Maryland and then Governor Markell of Delaware each signed laws requiring that their state agencies provide accurate, up-to-date information about Down syndrome for parents receiving a test result. They join Massachusetts (2012) and Kentucky (2013) in passing such legislation.

Delaware

Delaware joins Massachusetts and Kentucky exactly in what is required, passing in substance the exact same laws as passed in those states. So, now in Delaware, Massachusetts, and Kentucky anyone delivering a test result for Down syndrome to parents is required to provide accurate, up-to-date written information and contact information to local Down syndrome support organizations. Delaware hopefully will further join Massachusetts and Kentucky in identifying the same written information and resources to further standardize the way prenatal testing and postnatal diagnoses are administered.

Maryland

Maryland also passed a law providing information. Compelling testimony was taken during the hearings on the pending legislation:

When Heather Sachs’ daughter was born with Down Syndrome eight years ago, she wasn’t given helpful information or the names of parent groups offering advice and support.

Instead, Sachs tells Maryland lawmakers, she was simply handed a pamphlet, entitled “So You’ve Had a Mongoloid: Now What?”

On the audio of the Senate Finance Committee hearing where she testified, the gasps from lawmakers and attendees are audible.

Commission Holds Final Listening Session In Frederick

from WFMD 930 Free Talk:
The final listening session of the Maryland Commission for Effective Community Inclusion Of Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities was held in Frederick on Saturday afternoon. The panel was set up to examine training for police officers and other first-responders in dealing with persons with disabilities, and to make recommendations.
Members heard from a number of witnesses, including Phyllis Lidell, whose grandson has autism. She  said he also  has physical disabilities no one can see. "Police officers are working with everybody. They're so vulnerable to their ignorance, and other people's ignorance. They are looked on for guidance in these situations. They're looked at to set an example and control the situation. And when they're out of control themselves, we've got mayhem," she said.
The panel was appointed by the Governor in September, 2013, following the death of Ethan Saylor, 26, of New Market, who died following a struggle with off-duty sheriff's deputies who were trying to remove him from a movie theater in Frederick. He had Down Syndrome.

Ethan Saylor petition with 340,000 signatures presented to MD Governor

from ABC 2 News:
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The family of Ethan Saylor presented a petition to the governor Thursday containing 340,000 signatures in support of launching an investigation into his death.

Ethan Saylor was a 26-year-old man with Down's Syndrome. He died while in police custody at a movie theater in Frederick. Three off-duty Frederick County Sheriffs working at the movie theater intervened when Saylor refused to leave the theater after seeing the film Zero Dark Thirty.

What happened to Robert Ethan Saylor?

by The Editorial Board from The Washington Post:
WITH EVERY passing day, the appearance grows that Frederick County officials, especially the sheriff, Charles Jenkins, have something to hide in the case of a man with Down syndrome who died in a scuffle with law enforcement officers.
The movie-theater confrontation between Robert Ethan Saylor and off-duty sheriff’s deputies over an unpaid $12 movie ticket occurred nearly six months ago. There has still been no adequate public accounting of the events surrounding this senseless incident, which was ruled a homicide resulting from asphyxia.
Mr. Jenkins promised transparency, vowing that “all the facts will be presented when the investigation is complete.” What can he be waiting for?

High School Students Express Support for Shooting Victim

from CBS Baltimore by Derek Valcourt:
A violent start to the school year in Perry Hall after a student opens fire in the cafeteria.
Derek Valcourt has more on how the students are coping the day after the shooting.
Several hundred students and parents gathered around the flagpole at Perry Hall High School before the start of morning classes for a student organized prayer vigil in honor of the victim, 17-year-old Daniel Borowy.
“I would rather it happened to me than him,” said Kayla Finn.
“I’m praying for him and his family and hoping that he can recover soon and be back to the Daniel that I know he can be,” said Kirsten Elasser.
Some student wore T-shirts in honor of the guidance counselor credited with stopping the gunman.


from CBS Baltimore by Meghan McCorkell:
Seventeen-year-old Daniel Borowy remains in critical condition at Shock Trauma. His school community came together Tuesday to pray for him. Meghan McCorkell has more.
On the first day of school after the shooting, students gathered around the flagpole to reflect on one of their own who’s not here.
“He’s an innocent kid and it could have happened to anyone,” said freshman Kayla Finn.
Borowy was shot in the back when a fellow student opened fire in the crowded cafeteria.
His family released a statement saying, “On Monday, August 27, 2012, our son, Daniel was critically injured on his first day of school. We would like to personally thank school personnel who quickly responded, getting Daniel to safety.”
Just steps from the driveway of the high school is a sign urging the community to pray for Daniel. Many students like Michael Haley are openly showing their concern. Borowy lives right down the street from him.
“He always comes around and he always has a smile on his face,” Haley said.
“He just has an amazing personality. He’s just one of a kind,” said Kristen Elsasser.
Amidst heavy police presence, school officials held classes to bring the students back together.
“Our students have been very eager to talk to their teachers and now rallying around the victim and rallying around the community to help in any way they can,” said Perry Hall High School Principal George Roberts.
That sense of community is helping everyone there heal in the wake of this tragedy.
A Facebook page calling for prayers for Daniel Borowy continues to grow, with support coming in from all over the world.
Perry Hall plans to hold a community meeting sometime next week so students and parents can come together to talk about the shooting.