THE BASIC PREMISE OF A POLICE APPROACH TO HANDICAPPED CITIZENS IS THAT THEY SHOULD BE TREATED THE SAME WAY AS NONHANDICAPPED PEOPLE. HOWEVER, IN ORDER TO PREVENT MISUNDERSTANDINGS AND PROVIDE THE BEST POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE, POLICE OFFICERS MUST UNDERSTAND DISABLED PERSONS AND THE NATURE OF THEIR DISABILITIES AND HAVE SOME KNOWLEDGE OF AVAILABLE COMMUNITY RESOURCES. THE HANDICAPPED INCLUDE PEOPLE IMPAIRED OR DISABLED BY MENTAL RETARDATION, PHYSICAL DISABILITY, VISUAL IMPAIRMENT, AND HEARING IMPAIRMENT. OUTDATED PREJUDICES AGAINST THE HANDICAPPED HAVE GIVEN WAY TO THE CONTEMPORARY VIEW OF EQUAL CITIZENSHIP WHICH ENTITLES THE HANDICAPPED TO FULL PROTECTION, RIGHTS, AND PRIVILEGES UNDER THE LAW. THIS OUTLOOK HAS RESULTED IN THE REINTEGRATION OF THE HANDICAPPED INTO THE RESIDENTIAL AND WORKING COMMUNITIES, WHERE THEIR INCREASED CONTACT WITH THE POLICE IS INEVITABLE. TO MAKE RECOGNIZING AND INTERACTING WITH HANDICAPPED PEOPLE EASIER, TIPS ON ATTITUDES AND POLICE BEHAVIOR ARE OFFERED. THE POLICE BECOME INVOLVED WHEN (1) HANDICAPPED PERSONS BECOME LOST OR CONFUSED; (2) HANDICAPPED PERSONS BECOME VICTIMS OF CRIME OR ARE DENIED THEIR BASIC RIGHTS; (3) THE BEHAVIOR OF A HANDICAPPED PERSON AROUSES PUBLIC OR POLICE SUSPICION; AND (4) HANDICAPPED PERSONS ARE SUSPECTED OFFENDERS. POLICE REACTIONS IN EACH SITUATION ARE DISCUSSED, AS ARE AVENUES TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES. THE MANUAL ALSO DEALS WITH SPECIFIC PROBLEMS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MENTALLY RETARDED AND THE MENTALLY DISTURBED. APPENDIXES INCLUDE EXAMPLES OF SITUATIONS INVOLVING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND HANDICAPPED PERSONS, A TEST QUESTIONNAIRE ON THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THE MANUAL, A GLOSSARY OF TERMS, AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY. (MRK)