SHREVEPORT, La. – Recognizing when a person is in distress or dealing with a mental health disorder is the subject of special instruction at the Shreveport Police and Fire Training Academy.
First responders are learning Crisis Response Intervention Training to better respond to individuals in distress to help find a solution other than jail time or hospitalization.
CRIT trainers like Corey Dobbs teach officer safety, public safety, and diversion from the criminal justice system when possible.
“A lot of this program is based around officer wellness since you can’t help somebody else if you haven’t helped yourself,” said Dobbs.
CRIT is designed to prepare officers’ responses to people experiencing crises related to behavioral health conditions, substance use disorders, and intellectual or developmental disabilities.
“Officers might respond and not be able to recognize certain mental disorders or intellectual disorders, and the situation could go poorly for everybody involved. We need to teach officers that people may be sensitive to lights, sirens or our presence, and take into account everything a person could be experiencing to help de-escalate the situation,” said Dobbs.
Officers are encouraged to make connections, enhance their awareness of a situation and emphasize de-escalation techniques to support officer and public safety.
Trainer Matthew Dixon says active listening and conversation is a core tenet of CRIT.
“Active listening is the foundation of CRIT. Officers are taught transparency because if an officer cannot be trusted, all trust in the situation goes away. Officers are being trained to connect with community resources to help find an alternative to jail time or hospitalization. In the past it was hospital, jail, and that’s it. It’s different now and we can connect individuals with the resources they need to help them in the moment and in the future,” said Dixon.
CRIT trainers work with numerous nonprofits like The Bridge to help officers identify signs of Alzheimer’s and dementia as well as the Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse which will roll out a mobile crisis response unit to help those who call 988 to find solutions that do not lead to the hospital or jail.
“Jail or the hospital isn’t always the best option for some people. Let’s give them another option. Let’s give them another place to go. We make phone calls and connect our community partners with officers to get people the help they need,” said Dixon.
Officers with CRIT training can be requested to assist with any call for service.
“If you want a CRIT officer, ask for one. We would be happy to send one out to assist. On our roll call sheet, we have every officer’s name who has and a designation of CIT,” said Dixon.
The 40-hour training program is FREE TO ANY FIRST RESPONDER.