Schererville joins regional "Blue Envelope" program to help drivers with communication differences; council approves agreement

The Schererville Town Council on Jan. 21 voted to participate in a regional "Blue Envelope" program aimed at improving interactions between law enforcement and drivers with communication differences, including people on the autism spectrum and others with communication or sensory challenges.

Kathy LaRue, representing the St. John Township trustee's office, told council members the program package includes a blue envelope with a completed information card and a decal. "It is a safety precaution for both the officer as well as the driver," LaRue said, describing distribution points including the trustee's office, each police department in the township and the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. She said the trustee's community-service line item will fund the initial rollout and a donation fund could accept supplementary gifts.

Police Chief Pete Sormas said the initiative is voluntary and low-cost: "It's gonna be just the printing side of it. There's not a whole lot involved with the program when it comes to labor," he said, adding officers encounter individuals with communication barriers regularly and that the envelope helps officers "know what to expect." Concerns from council members about vetting and potential misuse were raised; a council member asked, "Is there any vetting of this? Is there anything any requirement for someone to take this?" Chief Sormas and LaRue replied that participation is voluntary, distribution will be through township and police lobbies (and the BMV in participating areas), and the rollout will be accompanied by social-media outreach and brief (about 30-minute) training for officers and dispatch.

LaRue said the Portage Township trustee is the initial pilot site; Schererville would be among the earliest additional participating townships and she characterized the program as a local, low-cost safety measure rather than a formal medical registry. Chief Sormas said the department plans to include the program in mandated training if the council approves the agreement, and dispatch will be informed so officers who respond to a stop recognize the envelope and adjust their approach.

Council approved the community-service agreement 4-0. The town's participation is funded through the trustee's community-service line item; the council recorded no additional staffing requirements. The program is voluntary for residents and distribution will be open at participating public offices. Council directed staff to proceed with the agreement and noted outreach and training as near-term next steps.