One Mind: TPD pledges to continue, expand mental health training, resources
The Temple Police Department has joined the One Mind campaign to ensure successful interactions between law enforcement and people in crisis or with mental health issues.
“We believe in equipping officers with the tools they need to serve our community at the highest level,” Police Chief Shawn Reynolds said. “Through our participation in the One Mind campaign, our officers will continue to receive valuable training that will lead to safer, more productive interactions with the public.”
The One Mind campaign, administered by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, requires participating agencies to meet several criteria within three years:
- Establish a clearly-defined and sustainable partnership with one or more community health organizations.
- Develop and implement a model policy addressing law enforcement response to people in crisis and/or with mental health issues or disorders.
- Train and certify 100 percent of sworn officers (and select non-sworn staff, such as dispatchers) in mental health awareness courses.
Every current Temple Police Department officer has received Crisis Intervention Training. An additional 25 officers have received Mental Health Officer certification, in which officers participate in mock scenarios of situations they may encounter on the job.
“These scenarios hit really close to home. Some of these I’ve actually experienced myself. We experience exactly what they’re putting us through almost every day in our jobs,” Officer Cody Close said after a recent training session. “Everything that we’re learning will absolutely help us every day. Having these extra tools at our disposal will only help us to better assist our community members.”
Previously, officers had two choices in these situations: Take the subject to jail or take them to the emergency room. However, neither of these outcomes provided a solution. Now with more resources at their disposal, officers can get subjects the help they need.
“These are sometimes people who want the help, but they just don’t know where to go,” Close said. “We are now able to give them those resources and say, ‘This is how we can help you.’”
The Department is partnering with Central County Services to hire a full-time Qualified Mental Health Professional who will respond to calls with officers. Officers will respond first to make the scene safe and secure. The mental health co-responder will then make contact with the individual and connect them with resources through partnerships with local mental health facilities.
“The mental health crisis is not one that we will solve alone,” Reynolds said. “It will take a community effort to identify and respond to the needs of our community. Through this program, we will be able to provide valuable resources to individuals experiencing mental crisis and reach more productive outcomes.”