I'm initiating this cause because disability rights are personal to me. Disabled individuals deserve the same level of safety as non-disabled individuals, specifically when interacting with law enforcement personnel.

Across the United States, the treatment of differently-abled individuals by law enforcement personnel is alarmingly disproportionate compared to their non-disabled counterparts. A staggering 33 to 50 percent of all people killed by law enforcement are disabled, as per a 2016 report by the Ruderman Family Foundation. The State of Oregon is not immune to this troubling national trend.

The obscure nature of disabilities particularly in intellectual and developmental capacity, often leads to misinterpretation of behaviors and unjust reactions by law enforcement. This is why we are advocating to create a state-wide police registry in Oregon to provide essential information about residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This registry will improve communication, increase understanding, and ultimately, ensure better treatment of disabled individuals by the police and other law enforcement personnel.

Join us in calling upon legislative bodies and law enforcement agencies in Oregon to build this registry and to enact policies that will enhance the safety of disabled individuals in police encounters. Sign this petition to promote a fair, just, and equitable approach to law enforcement for all.