ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today announced the completion and adoption of recommendations prepared by the Howard County Task Force on Disability Inclusion, Safety, and Crisis Response. The Task Force’s final report is the culmination of a 6-month intensive collaboration among local and State government officials, nonprofit organizations, local and State councils, individuals with lived experience, and clinicians.
Established by Executive Order 2026-08, the Task Force was asked to identify practical opportunities to improve crisis response policies and practices across four focus areas:
- Training for County employees;
- Education, outreach, & partnerships;
- On-scene response protocols; and,
- Emergency response and prevention protocols.
The Task Force held six work and discussion sessions during which they met with national and regional experts on crisis response, learned about a variety of crisis response models from neighboring jurisdictions, and reviewed current crisis response practices and regulations.
I would like to thank all Task Force members for their hard work to develop practical ways that the County can strengthen its crisis response system for people with disabilities and neurodivergent individuals. The safety, health, and wellbeing of this population is held in high value by all of us who serve in County government as well as all the members who committed to working together on this effort.
The report’s recommendations emphasize four high level priorities for the County, as follows:
- Ensure Meaningful Disability Inclusion
- Include people with disabilities, neurodivergent people and disability community representatives in all stages of planning, decision-making and implementation on crisis response.
- Improve Crisis Response and Require the Use of Safer Response Options
- Embed the Mobile Crisis Team (MCT) into dispatch 24/7, ensuring increased capacity during overnight hours (11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.) to more holistically respond to high-risk cases.
- Develop alternative response models that require mental health professionals over police.
- Require use of less-lethal tools, training and clear use-of-force policies.
- Require Comprehensive Training
- Mandate ongoing collaborative disability and behavioral health training for Police, Fire/EMS, MCT and other relevant County personnel.
- Improve trainings to better address communication practices and deescalation.
- Ensure Leadership and Accountability
- Establish transparent data collection and public reporting.
- Continue the work of the Task Force with a subgroup to monitor implementation of the recommendations and to hold the County accountable.
The Task Force worked to identify meaningful ways to improve crisis response and prevent future tragedies following the death of Alex LaMorie. As this work moves forward, two things are essential: continued commitment from the next administration to fully implement the recommendations, and meaningful leadership and oversight by people with disabilities throughout that process. Alex’s death continues to weigh heavily on our community, and the Autism Society of Maryland remains committed to working with the County and community partners to turn these recommendations into lasting change.
The County has historically invested in programs that are intended to improve the lives of people with disabilities and neurodivergent individuals through its 911 flagging and mock traffic stop program. Recent actions include:
- Purchased 200 tasers so that officers have alternatives when facing dangerous and unpredictable circumstances.
- Shared information on our confidential 911 flagging program so that dispatchers and responding officers better understand communication styles, potential triggers, and strategies that may help deescalate a situation.
- Enhanced our dedicated officer liaison program to help open dialogue with two-way communication to ensure all ideas are being heard.
- Began reviewing our Critical Incident Training for our officers to encourage continued learning and improving.
“Over the course of four months, Task Force members—including professionals with clinical and practical expertise, government and nonprofit representatives, individuals with disabilities, family members, and community advocates—worked to identify challenges and develop practical recommendations,” said Colonel Terrence Benn, HCPD. “Members brought a range of experiences and perspectives to this important work. We thank them all for their time, contributions, and valuable perspectives on protecting the safety of people with disabilities and neurodivergent individuals.”