Officers train for crisis intervention

UMATILLA and MORROW COUNTIES – Community Counseling Solutions provided Crisis Intervention Team training to area law enforcement officers throughout the month of March. The training is designed to help officers how to react when faced with those with a mental illness or are in crisis.

CCS Law Enforcement Liaison Ryan Lehnert said that the training improves the safety of everyone involved in crisis calls.

“The focus of the training is to teach officers to slow down, find a way to relate, validate a person’s state of mind, show compassion, and de-escalate persons in crisis,” Lehnert wrote. “Officers are reminded to ask themselves how they would want their family or friends treated should they end up in crisis, suffering from mental illness or living with developmental disability.”

There were 24 officers who received 40 hours of instruction and engaged with role players portraying some form of crisis. The officers were from the Umatilla, Hermiston, Stanfield, Pendleton, and Umatilla Tribal police departments; the Umatilla County and Morrow County sheriff’s offices; and Umatilla County Community Corrections. CCS also received help from agencies in presenting the training. Lehnert issued thanks to Greater Oregon Behavioral Health Institute, City County Insurance, Oregon State Police, Umatilla Tribal Police, Hermiston Police, Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office, Umatilla County District Attorney’s Office, and Pendleton Fire & Ambulance.

Photo provided by Community Counseling Solutions

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