Medford Officers Graduate from Specialized Mental Health Training

MEDFORD, MA -- Thirty-six police officers graduated from specialized mental health training Wednesday in Somerville.

The officers, from Brookline, Cambridge, Haverhill, Somerville, Medford and Waltham learned new techniques for responding to crises involving persons with mental health and substance abuse conditions.

The program, taught by clinicians and police officers, was provided by the Somerville-Cambridge-NAMI Regional Crisis Intervention Team Training and Technical Assistance Center. Officers were given an overview of the symptoms of disorders, including specialized topics such as PTSD and youth issues; verbal and non-verbal communication skills to de-escalate potentially volatile situations; and details on local resources to help facilitate an individual's recovery.

"These trainings are a critical component of a larger strategy to make certain that people with mental illness and substance abuse disorders are connected to the services they need rather than getting arrested and sent to jail," Patty Contente, director of Community Outreach and Harm Reduction at the Somerville Police Department, said in a press release.

Funded by the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, the aim of the initiative was to provide Crisis Intervention Team training and organize partnerships between law enforcement and human service providers in the communities. The model for training was originally conceived in Memphis, TN in 1988 and is now considered the archetype for improving community response to those with behavioral health conditions, according to the release.

"The nature of policing has changed dramatically over the past 20 years. As first responders to people experiencing behavioral health crises, police officers must have the skills to engage with community members safely and effectively," Jacquelyn Rose, director of Community Progress and Outreach at the Cambridge Police Department, said in the press release.

Last month Senator Jason Lewis filed a bill to establish a statewide Center of Excellence for Community Policing and Behavioral Health that would give support to police departments across Massachusetts when responding to calls pertaining to mental health and substance abuse.

By Alex Newman