Ryan Gainer, a 15-year-old with autism was killed by police in front of his home in Apple Valley, California on March 9, 2024.
The teen’s family called the police after Gainer had broken a glass door and hit a relative during a disagreement about chores. By the time police arrived to the call in Apple Valley, California, the family told police he had already calmed down and apologized.
Before the two deputies from San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department left the home, Gainer started moving toward one of them with a gardening tool known as a hula hoe. Gainer raised the tool and the deputies shot him more than 3 times and killed him.
Individuals with autism can sometimes experience heightened emotions, which makes interactions with police dangerous for them. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, people with developmental conditions are seven times more likely to interact with police than others.
Gainer is one of the many victims of the ongoing police brutality against those who are disabled, neurodivergent, or mentally ill. Just last year, in 2023, the sheriff’s department in Gainers County killed another man, Tony Garza, while he was in a mental health crisis.
Only eight states in the United States currently require law enforcement to receive training on developmental conditions. This, and the death of Gainer, contribute to the growing concern of law enforcement’s use of force against neurodivergent people.
Colorado is one of the eight states where law enforcement training is more in-depth. Colorado is one of the top 15 states where mental health in youth is high. It is important for our police officers to have the necessary education to help anyone who needs it.
People who advocate for this topic are fighting for law enforcement to receive more comprehensive training on topics related to neurodiversity and mental health diagnoses across the country. Others are calling for the complete removal of police presence from mental health crises and instead replacing them with clinicians or community response-style interventions.
