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4 | TheBucknerClarion.com September 2016 By Stephanie McHugh USA Today reported recently that mentally ill people are 16 times more likely than others to be killed by law enforcement officers. A Treatment Advocacy Center out of Virginia reported that of every four deadly police encounters, one involves a person suffering from mental illness. These types of reports have added to the increasing tensions between police officers and communities in the U.S. About 18.53 percent of the adult population suffers from some form of mental illness, according to Mental Health America. Because nearly 1 in 5 Americans may have some form of mental disability, this issue hits close to home for virtually everyone. Chief Michael "Mike" Buffalow of the Buckner Police Department (BPD) recognizes that there is a problem. He recently helped initiate implementation of a program that prepares law enforcement officers for encounters with the mentally ill: The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) program. With approval from Chief Buffalow, BPD Officer Brad Wright received additional training in order to establish the CIT Program in Buckner. What is the CIT Program? Officer Wright explains the program. He says that CIT is a first responder program that equips law enforcement officers to provide crisis intervention to mentally ill individuals. The program works in conjunction with mental health care professionals to assist people with mental health issues as well as their families and police officers. When are the Mentally Ill in Buckner Most at Risk? Chief Buffalow said there appears to be no records providing an historical accounting of police situations in Buckner involving mentally handicapped individuals. That changes with CIT, however, Chief Buffalow said, "One of the biggest problems we face is when people that are diagnosed with mental illness are not undergoing treatment or are not taking their medications properly. Families of loved ones must encourage those with mental illness to seek treatment and continue with treatment programs. Mental illness is not something to be ashamed of, and many illnesses are controllable with the right medications and treatment programs. Mental illness has historically carried with it a stigma that makes people hesitant to talk about their illness with others for fear of what some might think. The family plays an important role in comforting their loved ones and reassuring them that seeking help is the right thing to do." Complications in the Performance of Duties Chief Buffalow feels the weight of public scrutiny and criticism in regard to certain national police incidents involving mentally handicapped individuals. He said, "Any time an officer must use force while in the performance of their duties, the chance of injury to those involved increases dramatically. Additionally, many of our citizens are not familiar with an officer's use-of-force guidelines found in case law and often base decisions upon faulty and incomplete information, thereby wrongly accusing officers of inappropriate levels of force when the facts say otherwise." A Police Officer Demonstrates How It's Done A police officer in Houston, Texas, received recognition some years back for his handling of a person in a suspected mental health crisis. Officer Randy Crowder, with other officers, responded to a call from a concerned mother. He recalls thinking there was something else going on besides the unstable behavior of the woman's son. Officer Crowder asked the other officers to give him a few minutes with the young man, who was in an agitated state. The officer spoke respectfully with him and calmed him down. The young man cooperated by walking to the officer's car and riding to a psychiatric hospital, along with his mother. In two previous encounters with police, the same young man had been handcuffed and arrested. Once he was also shocked with a stun gun. The young man had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder but didn't always take his medication because it made him feel lethargic. At the time of this encounter, Officer Crowder had the benefit of being in one of six police departments across the nation that was singled out as a model for its mental health program. He also, however, had the benefit of personal experience. He grew up with a mentally handicapped relative who suffered from brain damage and could appear to be drunk. The relative had once been mistakenly arrested for public intoxication. According to research, CIT programs help officers yield appropriate results. The philosophy of the program is that "special people deserve special officers." In some police departments, volunteers help as a CIT liaison. In Buckner, as in many police departments, officers themselves participate in CIT. What Do Officers Learn in the CIT Program? Police officers say the training in the CIT program is a full 180 from traditional police training. Officers learn how to recognize symptoms of mental illness and develop skills for de-escalating confrontational situations. They are encouraged to speak to a potentially mentally ill person calmly and patiently. It's actually the entire community of mental health providers and others that make CIT work. For instance, it helps when dispatchers are able to recognize when mental health issues are involved at a scene police are called to. Chief Buffalow points out the reality of the situation. He said, "Though the CIT program is excellent in providing officers with different options to approach and handle a call, it is not the magical solution that will end all use-of- force incidents during contacts with persons experiencing mental illness." Chief Buffalow's Message to Buckner Residents "We want the residents of Buckner to know we are committed to providing the best possible police service to our community. If you or someone you know is struggling with a mental illness, we are here to help. We can assist you in getting connected with resources and services, from community support groups to crisis services. We can also assist those struggling with a substance abuse problem. Substance abuse problems and mental illness are often linked, and we can connect those struggling with treatment programs through our Community Mental Health Center." TheBucknerClarion.com

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