The Florham Park Police Department has partnered with the Morris County Sheriff’s Office, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Morris County Police Chiefs Association to launch the Blue Envelope Program in an effort to assist officers and those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) better understand one another during police and citizen motor vehicle contacts.

The purpose of the program is to alleviate the unnecessary confusion that sometimes exit when law enforcement encounters an individual/motor vehicle operator who has ASD.  The program offers a simple and safe way for law enforcement and individuals with ASD to communicate and understand one another immediately.  Those affected by ASD are provided a “Blue Envelope” which contains the individual’s emergency contacts and photocopies of the individual’s driver’s license, registration and insurance card, along with instructions to alert and educate the law enforcement officer the individual they’re encountering may possibly exhibit certain behaviors due to their disorder.   It also provides the individual with ASD information about what to expect when being involved in a motor vehicle stop or accident which requires law enforcement involvement.  The overall goal of the program is to provide a mutual understanding and create safe police/citizen encounters.

I would like to thank Chief Almer, of the Washington Twp Police Department, for his leadership in launching this program and the Morris County Sheriff, James Gannon, for printing and distributing over 3,000 Blue Envelopes to all Morris County law enforcement agencies to distribute to their resident populations.

If you have a family member or know of a Florham Park resident that would benefit from this program please contact the police department directly by emailing OEM@fppd.net or contacting me directly at 973-410-5440.

Joseph Orlando
Chief of Police