This photo shared by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office on its Facebook page shows local law enforcement and emergency agencies taking part in Crisis Intervention Training during a 40-hour class from Sept 28 through Oct. 2, 2015.

Local law enforcement agencies are continuing to teach their field officers how to properly recognize and de-escalate a situation involving someone who may be suffering from a serious mental illness.

“This is so law enforcement makes first contact with folks going through a crisis with a better understanding and education to talk to these people and bring them down, talk to them and bring them to areas to get help,” said Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Eric Spurling.

The first round of the weeklong program, called Crisis Intervention Team, or CIT, training, took place in late September and early October, Spurling said. Officers from the Lawrence, Baldwin City and Eudora police departments, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and Kansas University Public Safety Office all took part in the course.

Representatives from the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office, Lawrence Municipal Court and Douglas County District Court were also in attendance, Spurling said.

So far over 40 Lawrence police officers, around one quarter of their field team, have completed the training, said Sgt. David Hogue.

“We have made a commitment to have everybody trained by December of 2018,” Hogue said. “That’s anyone who is a commissioned officer. Detectives, patrol officers, supervisors.”

The training is coordinated by local agencies like the Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center, Headquarters Counseling Center and the local chapter for the National Alliance on Mental Illness, among others, Spurling said.

“We have a couple of role players from outside agencies like Bert Nash, and we base our scenarios on real experiences we’ve had on calls during a mental health crisis,” Hogue said. “They don’t go easy on the officers, and the officers need to start using the skills they’ve learned.”

One of the things the training offers is the acronym A.L.G.E.E., Spurling said.

• A – Assess the person for risk of suicide or self harm.
• L – Listen nonjudgmentally.
• G – Give reassurance and information.
• E – Encourage appropriate professional help.
• E – Encourage self help and other support strategies.

“We’ve got to get in that concept where they’re looking at this as approaching individuals that may be going through a mental health crisis in a little different tone than we might normally approach people,” Hogue said.

Serious mental illnesses can range anywhere from depression and suicidal behavior to post-traumatic stress disorder and psychosis, Hogue said. With proper training officers can approach each individual with the right mindset.

“Our normal paradigm is ‘hey, this person is being defiant and not recognizing my authority,’ but the reality is we could be dealing with someone who has autism or a mental illness or a learning disability and is not recognizing what we’re asking them to do.”

Officers are specifically trained to handle homeless people and those struggling with post traumatic stress, among others, Hogue said. And while each situation is different, police are basically taught to listen and defuse incidents without sacrificing their personal safety.

Many of those who have already completed the CIT training are already putting that knowledge into play on a daily basis, Hogue said.

“We’re validating where someone is at with a mental health crisis,” Hogue said. “When they hear someone asking questions instead of giving demands it can change the tone of the situation.”

CIT training began in Memphis, Tenn., after a 1988 incident where a police officer shot a seriously mentally ill person, Spurling said. Now, agencies across the country are taking part in the program.

Not only could the training help officers avoid using unnecessary force at times, but it can help divert people with serious mental illnesses from going to jail and into much needed community services better suited to treat their needs, Spurling said.

While there are several community resources available for those with serious mental illnesses, a possible jail expansion and creation of a crisis center and mental health court could offer even more help, Spurling said.

“Our end goal is hopefully diverting these folks so they don’t need to come through jail or through the booking process,” he said. “Hopefully we can get them to the crisis center to get them through this rough patch and get them on to living the rest of their lives.”

CIT training will be held twice a year for both 2016 and 2017, Hogue said. The next round of training is scheduled for this February.