Autism, Police Shooting Sparks New County Task Force

A new Howard County task force, established following the police shooting of Alex LaMorie, a man with autism, convened for its inaugural meeting on Thursday. The Task Force on Disability Inclusion, Safety and Crisis Response was created by executive order in May.

Members from law enforcement, county agencies, nonprofits, and social workers, alongside LaMorie's parents, expressed a shared goal: preventing a recurrence of the tragic events that led to LaMorie's death. His mother hopes to restore faith in protective systems and bring about meaningful change.

LaMorie was fatally shot on March 1 outside his Columbia apartment after officers responded to a 911 call he made regarding alleged blackmail. Despite being armed with a knife, he was shot 12 times after not complying with orders to drop the weapon. The Attorney General's Office has since cleared the officers involved.

The task force's initial focus included a review of the police department's existing training and protocols for mental health and crisis calls. Representatives from Grassroots Crisis Intervention were present to provide clarification on their response methods.

Discussions also touched upon the availability of nonlethal methods for officers and the provision of support services for families involved in such incidents. The task force is scheduled to present its recommendations to Howard County Executive Calvin Ball in November, with its next meeting set for August 24.