Associated Press
CLEVELAND — Officials say a county agency will train Cleveland police officers on how to intervene during mental health crises — a requirement in the city’s agreement with the U.S. Justice Department to reform its troubled police department.
The city and Cuyahoga County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services planned to discuss details of the training at a news conference Wednesday afternoon.
A lengthy Justice Department investigation into problems within the police department concluded that Cleveland officers sometimes use excessive force against people who have mental health problems, including those who hadn’t committed any crimes. Improvements in how officers respond to those experiencing mental health crises are part of a key provision in the court-approved consent decree reached after the investigation.
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