ng to such a call is very high. Dr. of Psychology Michael G. Conner of Portland, Oregon wrote that “First of all, there is a tremendous variability between police agencies, their training, their professionalism and their general orders when handling a call that involves angry, aggressive, violent, suicidal, self-harming, dangerous or severely disturbed behavior.” Dr. Conner also wrote, “Officers in some law enforcement agencies are trained to respond and handle mental health and psychological emergencies. Police in some cities have specially trained officers to handle these calls. Most police departments do not.” (Emphasis added) WHAT MUST BE DONE: Training for law enforcement officers must be implemented to insure sufficient numbers of police officers are trained in mental health issues are available to handle these types of situations. The training needs to be accomplished statewide, needs to be ongoing, and must be to the same standard in all police agencies in this state. All state police agencies will need training to respond to psychiatric emergencies providing crisis intervention, mental health assessments, and assistance.2.PROJECT OBJECTIVES“ To develop a plan that will reduce deaths by police to one or less per year within five months”THE OWNERS, CLIENTS, CONSUMERS, & GATEKEEPERS: With the Governor requesting the long-range plan the Governor has become the owner. As the Law Enforcement Agencies are here to protect the public and will need to support this plan, they become the consumers. The public would be the clients and as an individual with a mental illness is a member of the public they also are clients of this plan. Local Civil Rights Groups, Mental Health Advocates, various Community Leaders, Internal Affairs and Department of Justice are all willing to play gatekeepers.MEETING NEEDS, GETTING SUPPORT, & TAKING OWNERSHIP: With the cutback in funding for mental health...
