Clarkstown Cops Finish Crisis Intervention Training

The Clarkstown Police Department participated in advanced training in responding to emotionally disturbed persons and persons in crisis along with the Department of Mental Health and the Rockland County Sheriff’s Department.

Fourteen Clarkstown Police Officers participated in the class and received certificates of completion on Friday at the Fire Training Center in Pomona.

The goal of the training is to mitigate the effects of the crisis through de-escalation techniques, and reduce physical altercations between people in crisis, including those afflicted with mental diseases, and responding emergency personnel. Additionally, through the cooperative effort of the police, mental health professionals, and other interested parties in the community, the goal is to more effectively facilitate the long term care of those in need as opposed to just getting them through the immediate crisis.

“Clarkstown thanks Senator David Carlucci for funding the crisis intervention team training for our police officers,” said Supervisor Alex Gromack. “It is so important for our officers on the front line to be equipped with the best training possible to handle any situation, including those with people with mental illness. By working together we can lessen the effects of these types of situations and help those with mental illness get the assistance they need.”

This program was a result of a grant obtained by Carlucci and administered by the New York State Office of Mental Health. The grant was utilized to cover the costs incurred in completing the training, which consisted of 40 hours of instruction presented at the Rockland County Fire Training Center by Don Kamin of The Institute for Police, Mental Health & Community Collaboration.

“This critical funding will provide law enforcement officers with the specific tools needed when interacting with an individual who has a mental illness,” said Carlucci. “Far too often our law enforcement officers are the first line of defense when dealing with individuals with mental illness who are in crisis. The $400,000 we secured in the state budget in 2014-15, coupled with the additional $500,000 in the budget for 2015-16, will reduce the number of arrests of individuals with mental illness, and allow the law enforcement community to strengthen their relationships with mental health partners, criminal justices agencies and community members.”

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PHOTO: Clarkstown Supervisor Alex Gromack, Senator David Carlucci, County Executive Ed Day, Police Chief Michael Sullivan and Council members Shirley Lasker, Frank Borelli, and George Hoehmann proudly attended a graduation ceremony for 14 Clarkstown police officers who participated in advanced training in responding to emotionally disturbed persons and persons in crisis along with the Rockland County Department of Mental Health, and the Rockland County Sheriff’s Department.