PHILADELPHIA, PA, February 18, 2025—The Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office convened a press conference announcing the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) Certified Autism CenterTM (CAC) designation to the Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office. To earn this designation, at least 80% of community-facing officers and other personnel completed a position-specific autism training process. The certification includes scenario-based training designed to equip the department with essential skills for effectively understanding, communicating with, and assisting autistic and sensory-sensitive individuals.
“The Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office cares about every citizen we serve. To earn this prestigious certification, at least 80% of our deputies and professional staff underwent specialized, scenario-based training. This program is part of our commitment to provide our team with the knowledge and skills needed to better understand, communicate with, and assist individuals on the autism spectrum. We are proud to be the first and only law enforcement agency in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to receive this certification—setting a precedent for public safety agencies across the state,” says Sheriff Rochelle Bilal.
“The Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office, under Sheriff Bilal’s leadership, is committed to serving every community member with understanding and respect. The dedication and effort that went into this initiative is indicative of the culture put into place over the past 5 years,” says Jamison Rogers, Chief of Staff of the Layout Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office.
“Now, more than ever, law enforcement officers need to understand better how to communicate and engage with autistic individuals to ensure the safety and well- being of all community members. We not only designed and implemented the Autism Decal Program in 2023, but we also ensured that our officers and staff went through intensive training,” says Darryl B. Roberts, Assistant Director of Community Outreach of the Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office.
“This certification is a testament to the Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office’s dedication to prioritizing safety for every individual, especially for those who are autistic or sensory-sensitive,” says Myron Pincomb, IBCCES board chairman. “IBCCES is proud to award them with the Certified Autism CenterTM credential, highlighting their ongoing commitment to enhancing accessibility throughout their community.”
About the Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office – The Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office wants to ensure that Philadelphia residents can remain in their homes, which is why it supports programs that help residents learn more about available resources. Philadelphia residents must contact the Sheriff’s Office if they believe they have been illegally evicted by someone who was impersonating a Deputy Sheriff. The Sheriff’s Office will also continue to host food giveaways and other related activities to respond to the needs of all residents. If there are any questions that a resident may have, they can reach out to the Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office at 215-686-3560 or 215-686-3542 or our website, phillysheriff.com
About the IBCCES – Committed to providing the global standard for training and certification in the field of cognitive disorders – IBCCES provides a series of certifications that empower professionals to be leaders in their field and improve the outcomes for the individuals they serve. These programs are recognized around the world as the leading benchmark for training and certification in the areas of autism and other cognitive disorders. ibcces.org
