On August 15, 2024, we engaged in a pivotal meeting with the staff of Assemblymember Dr. Corey Jackson. This was followed by another important discussion on August 26, 2024, with the staff of Majority Leader Eloise Gómez Reyes of the California State Assembly. Both meetings addressed critical issues related to the interactions between law enforcement and individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) across California.

In our meeting with Assemblymember Dr. Corey Jackson’s office, we highlighted the urgent need for specialized training for law enforcement officers, establishing dedicated crisis intervention units for the I/DD community, and developing robust data collection systems to continuously evaluate and enhance these initiatives. This laid the foundation for our subsequent discussion with Majority Leader Eloise Gómez Reyes’s team, where we reiterated these priorities and underscored the importance of ongoing assessment and improvement of these programs.

IRC is dedicated to ensuring the safety of the clients served by the Regional Center system during interactions with law enforcement. We believe it is crucial that law enforcement officers are thoroughly trained and held accountable in their interactions with our community. Our commitment to collaborating closely with Assemblymember Jackson’s and Majority Leader Reyes’s offices, as well as with local law enforcement, remains steadfast as we work to enhance these vital protections for our community in San Bernardino and Riverside counties.

IRC fully supports and deeply appreciates the dedicated service of law enforcement officers, recognizing the demanding nature of their work and the significant efforts they put forth to uphold public safety. We have not made, nor will we make, recommendations that compromise their safety. Instead, we strive to equip them with the essential support needed to perform their duties effectively, particularly when encountering individuals with I/DD.

Please visit to read the full report used to drive this outreach effort:

Inland-Regional-Center-Police-Report.pdf (inlandrc.org)

Posted by:

Dr. CJ Cook, DBA

As Program Administrator, CJ is responsible for the proactive oversight of various units within IRC, including Community Management, Service Access and Equity, and Training and Development. CJ's oversight extends to Language Access and Cultural Competency (LACC), Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), equity in the Purchase of Service (POS), and the National Core Indicator (NCI) project. Furthermore, CJ is tasked with managing the IRC's Performance Contract with DDS and overseeing Emergency Services.