INDIANAPOLIS —
State Rep. Bill Friend, R-Macy, has introduced legislation requiring law enforcement officers to attend training on how to interact with people with Alzheimer’s disease.
Friend said he crafted the bill in response to a Peru police officer, who last year Tasered a 64-year-old nursing home resident with advance-stage Alzheimer’s.
House Bill 1044 would require six hours of training on Alzheimer’s disease and related senile dementia. Officers currently undergo training on autism, mental illness, addictive disorders, mental retardation and developmental disabilities.
Friend said he decided to write the bill after he was contacted by the family of James Howard. He was Tasered five times at Miller’s Merry Manor Nursing Home in June by Peru officer Gregory Martin.
Martin said in a police report that Howard was combative and wouldn’t obey his commands to get onto a stretcher to go to a hospital.
The Peru Board of Works fired Martin in August after officials determined he used excessive force in the incident. Martin currently is appealing the board’s decision in court and requesting back pay, wages and benefits accrued since he was fired.
Friend said he was dismayed when he learned of the Taser incident from Howard’s family. The legislator said Howard’s family asked him to create specific legislation for officers dealing with Alzheimer’s patients. He noted he has relatives who are currently residents at Miller’s Merry Manor in Peru.
“You think, oh my gosh, that could happen to one of my family members,” he said in a phone interview Tuesday.
Howard’s wife, Virginia, said Tuesday she was thrilled to learn Friend had introduced the new law.
“I think it’s fantastic,” she said. “If they can get that passed, it’d be wonderful ... This is what I wanted done. I want the law changed.”
Friend said Alzheimer’s disease is becoming more widespread in the state, and the legislation will ensure law enforcement officers take appropriate action when interacting with people who have the disease.
“As it becomes more prevalent, instances of officers encountering people with Alzheimer’s will likely go up,” he said. “With more training, hopefully we’ll avoid a situation like this from ever happening again.”
The bill was co-authored by state Rep. Mike Karickhoff, R-Kokomo. The bill had its first reading Tuesday in the House, and was referred to the Committee on Veterans Affairs and Public Safety.
Local News
January 9, 2013
Tasing at nursing home spurs bill
Proposal requires officers to get training about Alzheimer’s.
- Local News
-
-
Edna Lorraine Bright
WABASH – Edna Lorraine Bright, 102, rural Wabash, died at 1:45 a.m. Tuesday, June 18, 2013, at Rolling Meadows Healthcare Center, LaFontaine.
- City to auction bikes, tools More than 50 items will be up for bidding at the annual Logansport city auction Saturday. Up for sale will be items various city departments no longer need or ones that have been collected by the Logansport Police Department, Logansport Clerk-Treasur
- PARKER: Googling ourselves to death At a party a few years ago, a young reporter bounded over to my cluster of social nodders and, with the breathless-ness of a born tweeter, chirped: "What's the new hot thing?!" Without disturbing my mascara, I replied: "Anonymity." She looked befudd
- Maconaquah to hire armed officer BUNKER HILL -- The Maconaquah School District will hire an armed security officer next school year to patrol the district's four buildings. Maconaquah will be the first district in Miami County to hire an armed officer, also known as a student resour
- No Headline Provided CAMPBELL: Graveside services for James M. Campbell, 65, Logansport, will be 11 a.m. today at Leiters Ford Cemetery. GERHART: Services for Robert V. Gerhart, 80, Logansport, will be at 6 p.m. Saturday at First United Methodist Church. Visitation will
- Justin Bieber injures photographer in alleged hit-and-run Pitt brings new movie to New York NEW YORK -- Brad Pitt attended the New York City premiere of World War Z on Monday night, and the 49-year-old actor showed off his long blonde locks as he posed for photos on the red carpet. Pitt signed autographs fo
- Carroll hires new school police officer FLORA -- Carroll Consolidated Schools and the town of Flora hired a veteran school police officer from Kokomo's Northwestern High School that officials in both towns praise highly. "It's like getting Michael Jordan on your basketball team," said Flor
- No Headline Provided LHS Mini Cheer Camp slated The LHS mini cheer camp will be 9 to 11 a.m. June 24 to 27 at the Berry Bowl Gymnasium at Logansport High School. The camp hosted by the Logansport High School cheerleaders is for ages 4 to 14. If registered by Thursday,
-
Logan teen starts scoliosis support group
There's an old phrase that states, "Real women have curves." And while this Logansport teen has the kind of curves she's working to get rid of, she's trying to offer support to other teen girls going through the same thing. Fourteen-year-old Madison
- Face of Indiana changes INDIANAPOLIS - Like the rest of the nation, Indiana is continuing on a trend toward greater diversity as the numbers of Hispanics, blacks, Asians and other minorities are rising at a faster pace than whites. New census data released last week also s
- More Local News Headlines
-
Raw: German President Welcomes President Obama
Fans Cheer Dramatic Heat Comeback
Raw: Arizona Wildfire Scorches 8 Square Miles
Hoffa Mystery Still Fascinates After 4 Decades
Raw: 1 Dead in Shooting at Mo. Apartment Complex
Raw: Huge Fire Near Yosemite National Park
Raw: Obama Arrives in Berlin
3 Charged in Ohio With Enslaving Mom, Daughter
Obama Seeks G-8 Support on Syria
Raw: Volcano Erupts Near Mexico City
Kid Couture: Spending Big Bucks on Babies
Suicide Bombs Target Baghdad Mosque, Killing 29
Military Plans to Put Women in Combat Jobs
Solar Power Chargers in NYC Parks
Civil Rights Groups Sue NYPD Over Muslim Spying
Raw: First Lady, Daughters Enjoy Irish Sights
RAW: NSA Director Says 50 Plots Foiled
Boeing, Airbus Battle for Sales Supremacy
