Mental Health Outreach
Proper departmental training and officer implementation of best practices ensures those encounters with individuals in mental crisis end safely and not as another headline
The goal is always to have legally sustainable policy and practice guidelines in place that are supported by officer training
When a young man with harmful intentions is persuaded to seek help, a Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management team’s prompt intervention illustrates their essential function
The incident began with a 911 call from a woman saying her husband was suicidal and holding a machete
As officers were attempting to speak with the woman, she jumped in the unlocked vehicle and placed the car in drive, while officers struggled to pry the door open
Police response to these medical emergencies should focus on intervention and treatment of the patient
Prude’s death was ruled a homicide caused by “complications of asphyxia in the setting of physical restraint” with the drug PCP cited as a contributing factor
Crisis response teams have been slower to catch on in rural areas even though mental illness is just as prevalent there
Porter Burks, who was fatally shot after charging at officers with a knife, had a long history of mental illness
Federal money will allow communities to send mental health workers instead of police to incidents that involve non-violent behavioral health emergencies
The city is looking to change the depression and suicide rate among police officers, firefighters and EMS providers
Rescue crews face multiple challenges, including what to do if a person is uncooperative or if they attempt to jump from the stainless-steel net
Bakersfield Police Department’s recovery specialist has a special set of skills to field 9-1-1 calls for community members who may need mental health services
Austin’s 911 Mental Health Diversion Program is getting the right resources to mental health crises and lowering arrest rates
The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act includes funding to expand mental health and support services in schools
One agency is using virtual reality to tackle both
Current police officers are invited to participate in an online survey to share their perceptions of working with individuals with mental illness
Recent statistics show dispatchers routed 25% of the 2,400 mental health calls from January to March 2022 – not the 50% of calls the program promised
An official said use of the department’s mental health and wellness programs are the highest they have been
Protecting our communities from threats takes intense effort, rational behavior and logical thinking
“My concern was not about my safety. We just had to do what we had to do,” said Deputy Nicolas Reynolds
The program was launched to address what officers experienced in the shootings’ aftermath and every day
Deputies will use iPads to give people in crisis access to a mental health professional
“A Penny For Their Thoughts” seeks to raise a penny per mile to help responders and their families
The proposed reforms include reevaluating police “coaching” practices, creating a new community liaison and expanding mental crisis response programs
“When I talk to our taxpayers, they ask, ‘Why didn’t we do this sooner?’”
Galveston mental health professionals, paramedics and city police officers will work together
LAPD Deputy Chief Kris Pitcher believes the program has been “largely hampered” by a new bail policy
The documentary “Crisis Cops” that follows Officers Joe Smarro and Ernie Stevens prompted one viewer to put pen to paper
Officers can help a person in crisis while achieving the goal of voluntary compliance by taking things SLOW
Technology gives first responders valuable information when they are approaching persons with physical or mental health needs
After extensive planning and training, the Long Beach IMR Pilot Program has launched to provide safe, timely and appropriate medical care to individuals in crisis
The program will help deputies and COs identify and respond to a mental health crisis as well as potentially in their own lives
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