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Saint Charles police honor investigators, launch "Blue Envelope" program to aid interactions with autistic residents
Summary
Police Chief Dan Likens recognized Sergeant Jackson for major narcotics cases and highlighted a new "Blue Envelope" program — developed with Officer Megan Kramer and local nonprofits and businesses — to help officers communicate more effectively with drivers who have autism.
Police Chief Dan Likens used the opening of the Dec. 1 City Council meeting to recognize officers and to highlight a new community-police partnership aimed at improving interactions with autistic residents.
Chief Likens described awards to Sergeant Jackson for task-force narcotics work that included significant seizures and a resulting felony conviction and prison sentence. "Navigating a sensitive situation and numerous hurdles to gain a residential search warrant seizing 3,561 grams of cannabis, 4,500 grams of psilocybin mushrooms, and most importantly, 24 firearms... which resulted in a felony conviction here in Kane County and an 8 year prison sentence," Likens said as he read award language praising the investigation.
Likens also thanked Officer Megan Kramer and community partners Carmen Santiago Keenan and Melanie Gaten of the Autism Hero Project and Chris McClure of West Valley Graphics for helping launch the "Blue Envelope" project. The envelopes hold essential documents and feature communication guidelines intended to "calm the mood" and give officers and drivers clear cues to improve safety and communication during stops.
Chris McClure donated printing costs for the envelopes and the police department will distribute them at community events. Chief Likens and city officials encouraged residents to learn about the program and to request envelopes through the police department.
The recognition highlighted law-enforcement investigative work and a community-focused effort to improve police interactions with people who have communication or sensory differences.
