Local Police Officers Participate In Crisis Intervention Training

TEWKSBURY, MA — Officers from the Billerica, Chelmsford, Dracut, Lowell, Pepperell, Tewksbury and Tyngsborough Police Departments have received 40 hours of Crisis Intervention Training from the Front Line Initiative.

A total of 35 officers from the seven participating departments completed 40 hours of intensive informational and practical training held at the Chelmsford Police Department over five days this month. Participating officers and supervisors were awarded graduation certificates from the Front Line Initiative Middlesex Crisis Intervention Team's Training & Technical Assistance Center upon completing the course.

Crisis Intervention Team training provided by Front Line aims to provide law enforcement officers with the skills and knowledge necessary to respond to calls of individuals who are experiencing mental health-related crises. Officers are exposed to experts in the field who provide in-depth training on a variety of topics related to mental health.

"The goal of the training is to improve the outcomes of encounters individuals experiencing crisis have with law enforcement," said Executive Director Matthew Page-Shelton in a statement. "An additional focus of the training is to equip law enforcement with knowledge of the resources in the community with a goal of ensuring individuals have greater likelihood of receiving mental health services after an encounter with law enforcement."

The training is funded by a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, which recognized the success of a pilot program that was conducted in 2021 and asked the Front Line Initiative to form the Middlesex Crisis Intervention Team's Training & Technical Assistance Center. The purpose of the center is to provide training and technical assistance to law enforcement agencies throughout Middlesex County.

"As first responders, today's police officers are on the front lines of our nation's mental health crisis, and are often the first to arrive when individuals find themselves in crisis," Chiefs Columbus, Spinney, Frost, Howe, Bartlett, and Scott said in a joint statement. "This training is critical for modern law enforcement officers, and we are all proud to be leaders in the effort to improve outcomes for those who face mental health challenges."

To access services provided by the Front Line Initiative, call the Clinical Support Team at 978-215-9642. The service is accessible 24/7. To access a variety of behavioral health and substance use disorder resources compiled by the Front Line Initiative online in partnership with Credible Mind, click here.