Garden City Police Department, along with many other Weld County law enforcement agencies, launched the Blue Envelope Program for our local community.

The Blue Envelope Program is a nationwide initiative launched in Connecticut in 2020. It is designed to aid individuals with communication challenges during interactions with emergency service personnel. The program focuses on providing clear and simple communication tools, especially for those on the autism spectrum, to reduce anxiety and misunderstanding during traffic stops and other encounters.

Program Contact:

Police Chief Jeremy Black 970-515-6299

Participants will receive a blue envelope that requests essential information like a copy of a driver's license, registration, insurance, and emergency contact details to be placed inside. When emergency personnel contact these participants, the blue envelope should be presented to emergency service personnel when safe to do so.

The envelope can be kept in a home or in a vehicle's glove box. It also comes with a sticker to be placed on a vehicle or at the front of a home to help further identify participation. 

The program may apply to the following folks, but does not necessarily cover all potential participants:

• Autistic
• Tourette Syndrome
• Needs interpreter
• Deaf or hard of hearing
• Limited vision
• Medical Alerts: Diabetic, Seizure disorder

Blue envelopes can be obtained by stopping by the Garden City Town Hall, Monday through Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.   

Garden City residents may also call Chief Jeremy Black - 970-515-6299, to arrange for a blue envelope and sticker to be mailed to them.

More Details:

• Participation is by request only.
• No participant list or data storage is maintained and the goal for GCPD is to support our residents that require communication assistance during first responder contacts. 

The Envelope:

• It is recommended that the envelope be placed in the glove box of a vehicle.
• Let the officer know you will hand them the Blue Envelope when the interaction begins or have it in hand when approached by first responders.
• Participants should include copies of needed documents, such as driver's licenses, registrations, and insurance, inside the envelope.
• The exterior of the envelope provides guidance to the driver and the officer, such as tips for officers to remember; participants may list needs or disability information (verbal, medical, or neurological); and optional emergency contact information for those who may wish to have a person contacted in the event of medical episodes.

Important Reminders:

The Garden City Police Department believes this program will support more of our community in police interactions, but please remember: 

• Like all community members, individuals using the blue envelope are still expected to follow the law.
• This is a new program within the State of Colorado, and while many other local first responder departments/agencies are aware of it, first responders from other agencies or jurisdictions may not recognize it. Please give them grace and we as responders will strive to work with those persons needing assistance during first responder interactions. 

Blue Envelope Program FAQ:

How do I register for the Blue Envelope Program?

• There is no registration process to participate in the Blue Envelope Program. The program is intended for those who choose to identify themselves as having a condition or disability which may impact communication or require additional accommodations or awareness during an interaction.

Is there a cost to participate in the Blue Envelope Program?

• The program is voluntary, free, and no registration is required to participate.