People with autism spectrum disorder may become distraught during a visit from police, said Sgt. Bryan Jarema at the Alpena Post on Thursday.

Sometimes unable to communicate their feelings, people with autism may find comfort in some of the objects in calming bags recently provided by Michigan State Police to troopers at all Michigan posts.

Each bag includes a fidget spinner — a spinning toy designed to occupy restless fingers — and a chewable silicone stick, both objects often used as calming devices by people with autism. A ball, stickers, a coloring book, and sunglasses to help with light sensitivity fill each bag, as well — simple objects, but possibly crucial when an officer needs to calm a panicked situation, Jarema said.

“It’s a good little bag of stuff,” said Jarema, describing the fear and agitation police sometimes encounter in interactions with autism. “Sometimes they just look at you. They can’t tell you how they feel.”

News Photo by Julie Riddle New medical storage bags line a wall at the Michigan State Police-Alpena Post on Thursday.

When police are sent to confront an out-of-control juvenile, many times the young person is autistic, Jarema said.

Even parents or caregivers experienced with working with autistic children or family members may not know how to handle a violent outburst or uncontrolled behavior caused by autism. Calling police is often the next step, and police reports filed by troopers are filled with incidents of police responding to an incident involving an autistic person, he said.

The bags, and accompanying virtual training provided by the Autism Alliance of Michigan, help troopers better take care of their community, Jarema said.

On Wednesday, another set of bags arrived at the Alpena Post — 28 backpacks to put medical supplies within easy reach when needed.

Replacing troopers’ former tackle boxes filled with medical supplies, the backpacks hold clearly-marked inner pouches to store supplies for specific medical needs, including CPR, splinting, trauma, and decontamination.

News Photo by Julie Riddle Sgt. Bryan Jarema holds a chewable silicone stick, one of several objects provided to troopers at the Michigan State Police-Alpena Post to help them interact with people with autism.

A detachable outer pouch can be peeled from the backpack and strapped around a trooper’s leg, a quick and portable alternative to bulkier medical kits.

“Wow, this is awesome,” Jarema said, looking through one of the medical backpacks for the first time on Thursday, pulling out tourniquets and supplies for clotting bullet holes.

The new bags reflect troopers’ role as caretakers, Jarema said.

“Everybody sees us on traffic stops or taking the bad guy to jail,” he said. “We do that, too. But we wear so many different hats in a day, from counseling to dealing with an autistic patient to dealing with family deaths, you name it. We’re not dealing with just the bad guy on the street.”

News Photo by Julie Riddle Sgt. Bryan Jarema on Thursday opens one of 28 new medical bags that recently arrived at the Michigan State Police-Alpena Post.