Post Falls Police has made a huge step in the right direction by putting the burden of not being shot by a police officer squarely where it belongs  – on the victim.

Today, they introduced signs that people can place in windows that warns officers that they’re autistic. This will allow the officer to use more reasoned judgment before shooting and killing the person. “This really is a huge step forward in policing” Chief Pat Knight said, “Now instead of our police officers having to make reasoned and rational decisions, we can place that burden onto the person we’re going to shoot.”

Although the program has started with autism, Chief Knight plans to extend it to black people, Constitutionalists, and the Gays. Here’s what those signs look like.

“We really want people to know that if they would like to be treated like human beings they should request that,” Chief Knight said. “If an officer is unlawfully harassing a citizen and the citizen can say ‘Stop. I’m gay and you shouldn’t harass me’, it makes the officer rethink his behavior.”

The one black person in Post Falls is still uncertain about the program, “The police keep trying to give me a sign that says “Black Person – don’t shoot” or something like that. I feel like this is a trick, you know? Didn’t they tell the Jews to wear a sign too? I feel like that went badly for them.”

Chief Knight says not so. “It’s helpful for minorities and protected classes to be labeled. This helps us make different decisions in how we police them. For instance, if someone has the Black Person sign in their car, we can know to call for back up before approaching the driver’s window. If someone has the gay person sign in their car, our officers know to blast Dancing Queen from their loud speaker in order to calm the suspect.”

Officer B Schitz agrees, “last week I confronted a Constitutionalist who demanded to know why he was being detained. I told him he looked suspicious. Then he showed me his sign. At that point I knew I had to make up a reason for detaining him. This really helped with my case later on. With most people I can just get away with saying ‘because I said so.'”

This program truly has unlimited possibilities. Other suggestions have included “Mexican Immigrant – Not a rapist.” and “Asian – Yes, they exist in Idaho.” Officers have even suggested ones for themselves:

Of course, I guess they don’t need a sign for that. They have the thin blue line.