A POLICE officer who struck up a friendship with a Stourbridge man with learning disabilities and treated him to a guided police station tour, has been thanked for his support.
DC Jason Jordan, from the West Bromwich Public Protection Unit, met David Sheriff – who is autistic and has Down’s Syndrome - earlier this year while investigating a case locally.
He was won over by the 30-year-old’s love for all things policing and arranged for some West Midlands Police goodies, including key rings, cups and badges, to be given to him as gifts.
And when David and his mum Helen Ashby asked if they could pop along and say hello to all the officers at West Bromwich Police Station, Jason was only too happy to oblige.
He spent time with the ‘E Unit’ response team, before they set out on duty, and posed for pictures to look back on his fun day out.
Helen works as a voluntary family advocate for schools, colleges and social organisations and has now offered her services to Sandwell police officers to learn more about autism awareness and reasonable adjustments, as well as upskilling officers in this area.
She said: "David had an amazing time. He loves the police and it's important we teach vulnerable adults that the police are there to help and are not to be feared."
A police spokesman added: "This is a truly heart-warming example of one of our officers offering friendship."
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