⚠️ Alex LaMorie was autistic, suicidal, and trying to follow the safety plan he had built to stay alive. That plan included calling 911. He followed it, and did not survive what happened next.  https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/howard-county-police-shooting-patuxent-apartment-columbia-lamorie/

On March 1st, Alex was experiencing a mental health crisis and told his mother he was feeling suicidal. In an effort to stay safe, he called 911 for a wellness check on himself—an essential step in the safety plan he had meticulously developed for moments like this. His mother also reached out to the authorities, ensuring they knew of Alex's mental health state.

Tragically, the system failed Alex. What should have been met with understanding and support resulted in a lethal encounter. Instead of compassion, Alex was met with violence, a devastating reality for many individuals in crisis.

I am autistic and a civilian member of Toronto Police Services Missing and Missed Implementation Team. I am horrified by the violent response by shooting Alex Lemorie six times, killing him. The reason he didn't drop the knife was likely because three people demanding he do something, probably yelling and screaming, would send him into sensory overload and a freeze response.  

Another possibility is suicide by cop, or assisted suicide. He told the 911 dispatcher he was suicidal. The police should recognize he posed no threat to outsiders and may have been feigning a threat to the police in order to be shot. Autistic adults have a theory of mind. 

In most police services, including Toronto, the policy in this situation would be to use the beanbag rounds in a shotgun, or a Taser, not the pistol. De escalation with no weapons has been employed very successfully, including in cases where the complainant is suicidal and has a knife. Please reach out to me and the Autistic Self Advocacy Network on autism, mental health, and police interactions.  

I am autistic and have the privilege to work in a civil (unarmed) Toronto police position as an advisor on missing person policies. In Toronto, we observe that police are more likely to use a Taser or a beanbag rather than lethal force against a person in crisis, raising an important question: why was Alex, who was clearly in need of help, not met with a similar approach of de-escalation and empathy?

Police need to recognize and address "suicide by cop" incidents with care, urgency, and understanding. Mental health crises require specialized, informed responses, not aggression. There must be a shift in how these situations are handled to prevent such tragedies from happening again.

We must demand change in police protocols and training nationwide, ensuring that officers are equipped with the necessary tools and sensitivity to handle mental health crises compassionately. This includes implementing regular training sessions, collaborating with mental health professionals, and prioritizing non-violent intervention strategies.

Join us in urging law enforcement agencies to reform their approach to handling individuals in crisis. By signing this petition, you support the call for systemic change, seeking to save lives and honor Alex's memory with meaningful action. Your voice matters—we need policies that protect, not harm, those in their most vulnerable moments. Please sign and share this petition to help make a difference.  Also contact the police service via this link.  https://share.google/LedeN76sgkhvewHTQ