Autism and Law Enforcement Response

CENTRAL ILLINOIS POLICE TRAINING CENTER

Brian Fengel, Director

Phone: (309) 690-7355
Fax: (309) 690-7359
Heather Grove: hgrove@icc.edu

Diane Schrementi: ds018b@icc.edu

Robert Pyszka: rp717@icc.edu

Instructor: Bart Barta

May 18, 2026

8am – 5pm

Class will meet at: CIPTC, ICC Peoria Campus, 5407 N. University, Poplar P130, Peoria, IL

Enrollment Deadline: May 11, 2026

Course Size: Minimum –15 Maximum – 32

Description

This course will provide law enforcement personnel with a basic understanding of autism and how individuals with autism behave, communicate, and react in various situations. Furthermore, it will address high-risk and crisis incidents, and provide tips and effective strategies to defuse and de-escalate potentially volatile situations. Additionally, it will address how to conduct interviews involving victims, witnesses and suspects who have autism.

Topics

Typical law enforcement contacts
Crisis intervention techniques
Interview techniques
Missing persons
Arrest and restraint
De-escalation techniques
Tools of disclosure
Available resources

About the Instructor

Bart Barta is the proud father of Daniel, an adult with autism. When Daniel was diagnosed with autism at age three, Bart recognized there was a need for autism training for law enforcement officers so individuals with autism and law enforcement officers could remain safe. In 2007, he began instructing law enforcement officers on recognizing and appropriately responding to individuals with autism. Bart teaches from the dual perspective of being a law enforcement officer and the parent of a child with autism. He understands many of the challenges faced by the autism community and the law enforcement community.

Bart is a retired law enforcement commander with over 31 years of experience. He is also a Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) certified law enforcement instructor who has trained more than 12,000 first responders nationwide to interact with people with autism successfully. Bart is recognized as a subject matter expert in autism and law enforcement contacts, and in 2017, he contributed to the development of autism curriculum for officers in the state of Florida.

Mobile In-Service Training Team#7 Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board

MTU 7 request for certification of this course has been approved by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board

Meets the following mandatory training criteria: Autism-Informed Law Enforcement Response 3 hours; Const. Use of LE Authority 1 hour; Crisis Intervention 1 hour; Human Rights 1 hour; De-Escalation Techniques 1 hour and Officer Safety Techniques 1 hour Specialized Mandate: Officer & Youth Interaction 8 hours

Event