Tourette Syndrome and Neurodiversity: What Every Officer Should Know

2026-04-20 · William L Hartwick

I'm writing this as a man who lives with Tourette syndrome, and as someone who was wrongfully arrested in 2019 because an officer mistook my neurology for intoxication. This post is the training I wish that officer had received.

A Tic Is Not Resistance

When a person with Tourette's is stopped, their tics often get worse. Stress amplifies the nervous system. A sudden head jerk, a shoulder shrug, a vocal sound — these are involuntary. They are not "furtive movements." They are not aggression. They are a body responding to fear.

Stimming Is Not Impairment

Autistic adults, ADHD adults, and people with sensory-processing differences often stim — rocking, hand-flapping, repeating words, avoiding eye contact. None of this indicates drug use. None of it indicates guilt. It indicates a nervous system trying to self-regulate under extreme stress.

In my case, an officer interpreted my tics as methamphetamine use. I was a retired principal asking for help. The assumption cost me my dignity, my freedom for a night, and years of healing.

What Officers Can Do Differently

1. Ask, don't assume. "Do you have a medical or neurological condition I should know about?" takes three seconds and prevents tragedies.
2. Slow the encounter down. Neurodivergent processing often needs more time. Rushed commands escalate; calm pacing de-escalates.
3. Reduce stimuli. Lights, sirens, multiple voices — all of it overloads a sensory-sensitive nervous system. One officer, one voice, lower volume.
4. Believe the disclosure. If someone says "I have Tourette's" or "I'm autistic," that is medical information. Treat it the way you would a diabetic disclosure.

What Citizens Can Do

If you or someone you love is neurodivergent, carry a card or wear an ID that states the condition. Practice the words you'll say if stopped. And if an encounter goes wrong, file an anonymous report on The Invisible Backpack Organization. Community membership is free for everyone, and anonymous emergency reports are always accepted, member or not. Documentation is how training finally changes.

We Are Not Edge Cases

One in five Americans is neurodivergent. We are your neighbors, your teachers, your veterans, your kids. We are not edge cases. We are the public you serve.

Understanding us isn't a favor. It's the job.

— William L Hartwick