Bridging a gap: MPD crisis officers learn sign language
In American Sign Language, there is a sign for the word "understand."
But by expressively using the sign, her face and body, Sheila Chappell, the ASL instructor at DeafConnect, was able to show a roomful of police officers on Friday the many interpretations of that word.
The officers are members of the Memphis Police Department's Crisis Intervention Team and were among the approximately 270 CIT officers who will attend a three-hour class to learn the basics of ASL, how the deaf community communicates and how they need to be understood.
"I'm just thrilled that my daughter was able to get this. Because I've tried this many years ago when we first moved from Arizona. We were trying to get police to take the class and there didn't seem to be interest. After two or three years, I just gave up," Sheila Chap-
not presented in the trial this week.
Patterson petitioned for custody of Josiah in May 2015 and claimed he would show that he was “the more fit parent and better able to care for the needs” of the baby.
Patterson, who pleaded guilty in 1996 to criminal attempted statutory rape of a 17-year-old girl who said he choked her, got joint custody of Josiah.
Juvenile Court Magistrate Sheldon McCall awarded Patterson time with Josiah for seven days beginning at 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 30, 2015.
By the morning of the sixth day, Josiah was dead.
Judge Carolyn Wade Blackett set sentencing for Patterson in March.
Brown said a balloon release in honor of her son is planned for next week at his grave at Union Cemetery.