The Bristol Police Department will soon launch a program that strives towards creating better, less stressful interactions between officers conducting traffic stops and individuals who, unbeknownst to the officer, might have a variety of special needs that impacts their ability to communicate.

Known as a “Blue Envelope Program”, the process is designed to be simple. Anyone with a condition or disability that impacts their ability to quickly or calmly communicate (anything from autism spectrum disorder, anxiety, a hearing impairment, dementia, etc.) can grab one of the blue envelopes. Inside the envelope, they can place their driver’s license, vehicle registration, insurance card, and a piece of paper or card with information to reach an emergency contact.

Written on the outside of the envelope is step-by-step instructions for how to handle a traffic stop, and what they should expect to happen. When the officer reaches the car, the person can simply hand them the envelope, which simultaneously lets the officer know what to expect and, ideally, results in a calmer, more predictable situation for both parties.

The “Blue Envelope Program”, according to Lynch, was something he had seen successfully utilized in the Central Falls and Cranston Police Departments, and felt it would be a good fit for Bristol as well.

“I have really tried to re-orient the Bristol Police Department as a community-oriented department,” he said. “We recognize that interacting with a police officer in the community or in a motor vehicle stop situation can be stressful for some, making communication challenging, especially for individuals with special needs. This program immediately establishes a relationship of trust between an officer and a driver who may not be able to communicate to the best of their abilities…I always want an interaction with an officer to be positive.”

The blue envelopes be available soon at the Bristol Police Department headquarters (395 Metacom Ave., Bristol), and Lynch said eventually they will be distributed to other partner organizations in Bristol who assist people with special needs.

Lynch made sure to emphasize that participation in the program is entirely voluntary and does not involve any form of registration required. He said that the department will follow up with a formal training process for officers to become aware of the program and continue working towards his goal of a more benevolent department as a whole.

“Training is one thing but being responsive and caring and having empathy is something I hope to establish as a hallmark of the Bristol Police Department,” he said.