New law mandates Utah police undergo autism awareness training

Police officers in Utah will undergo mandatory training to learn how better to interact with people on the autism spectrum -- the result of a new law.

Police officers in Utah will undergo mandatory training to learn how better to interact with people on the autism spectrum -- the result of legislation that passed in March and took effect this month. The new law requires all police officers in Utah have "training in intervention responses to autism spectrum disorder and other mental illnesses." State Rep. Steve Eliason told ABC News that he introduced the bill, in part, after a teen with autism was shot by Salt Lake City Police in September 2020. "Knowing how to deal with (people with autism) more specifically, just seems like it could do a world of good," Eliason said.