Tools for the toolbox:Plano Police train for crisis intervention

A disgruntled employee. A suicide jumper. An autistic child.

When a crisis call involves an emotionally-disturbed individual or someone suffering from a mental illness, first responders must go beyond traditional training in order to effectively deescalate the situation.

To help improve these response outcomes, Plano officers joined the Frisco Police Department and the Dallas Sheriff's Office last week to participate in a 40-hour, crisis intervention training (CIT) class. Organized by the Dallas Police Department, the training consisted of classroom instruction, observation at local hospitals and mock scenarios allowing officers to put their classroom knowledge to work. Those who graduated from the training will be qualified as certified mental health officers.

"This goes a lot farther than what we used to do back in the day -- either apprehension or not doing anything at all," said Sergeant A.D. Paul of the Plano Police Department. "After graduating, these officers will know what is available to citizens and goes beyond their normal training."

Plano introduced the CIT program in 2009, which works to improve communication between law enforcement and mental health providers in the community. The program has been adopted by many police departments throughout the country since it was started in Memphis, Tenn. in 1988, after a mentally-ill person was wrongly killed during a routine call.

Thanks to local professionals and advocates who participated in the training, officers learned about symptoms of and medications used to treat various types of mental illnesses, from schizophrenia to Alzheimer's. Understanding the nature of the individual's condition helps law enforcement officials devise specialized techniques for communicating with disturbed subjects, who may not need to be apprehended but simply led to the proper resources, Paul said.

"It also helps us develop a relationship with providers and advocates in this field, so it really does go a long way for helping people with serious issues," Paul said. "It's a holistic approach."

Psychiatric Nurse and Addiction Disorder Specialist Sherry Cusumano from Green Oaks Hospital in Dallas assisted in last week's training and said she noticed almost immediate perception changes when it comes to talking about special needs "consumers" and expects to see a decrease in the number of injuries among them as officer empathy increases.

"They're trying to make this as realistic as it can be and it's hard," Cusumano said. "They have been taught to deal with certain things very efficiently with the general public and the everyday criminal. With mentally ill people, that's not the way to gain control. There's a different approach to things."

Based on Memphis studies, the CIT Program has, in fact, proven to help reduce injuries in both officers and citizens, and decreases repeat responses to those same citizens, as well as reduce the number of complaints, Paul said.

The training is some of the most used by patrol officers during their career, as it not only applies to dealing with mental disorders, it can also be used when dealing with those under the influence of drugs and the emotionally distraught.

"The emphasis is that you have to slow it down, you've got to take your time in order to do it right," said Sgt. Dominic Saleh of the Plano Police Department. "A lot of times we are taught to clear the call and go to the next one."

Current Rating: 4 of 1 votes!

Rate File: Select Rating: * ** *** ****

 Plano Apartments
 Plano Attorneys
 Plano Auto Dealers
 Plano Auto Parts
 Plano Auto Repair
 Plano Beauty Salons
 Plano Car Rental
 Plano Dentists
 Plano Doctors
 Plano Flowers
 Plano Hotels
 Plano Insurance
 Plano Loans
 Plano Mortgages
 Plano Movers
 Plano Pizza
 Plano Realtors
 Plano Restaurants
 Plano Storage
 Plano Tax Preparation
 Plano Travel
 Featured
 More...