A training session that took place at the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office last week might seem like standard procedure, but it actually represents a local agency taking the lead in an important area of policing.
The crisis intervention training attracted about 40 officers from Lewis County and surrounding areas. It focused on discussing the best practices, strategies and tips for approaching someone suffering from a mental health issue.
It’s incredibly difficult for an officer to gauge the mindset of an individual exhibiting odd or dangerous behavior. Are they being defiant, or do they wish to do harm?
Are they inebriated, or are they simply struggling with a mental disorder that has rendered them overstimulated or otherwise overwhelmed?
There’s no surefire way to know the difference, but it’s important that law enforcement officers learn what they can about various disorders and how to approach someone in the midst of an episode.
The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office was the first in Western Washington to request crisis intervention training as part of a state-mandated rule passed into law in 2015 requiring it.
Last week’s training spanned the spectrum, from dementia and brain injuries to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
The lessons, when implemented in the field, could at times mean the difference between a fatal encounter with law enforcement and the help the individual needs from mental health professionals.
While the training is required, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office has been proactive in requiring it.
Sheriff Rob Snaza has placed an emphasis on the issue in his first year at the helm of the office. His deputies have worked with Cascade Mental Health, and the office is engaged in the Mental Health Alternative, a partnership with the county prosecutor’s office, superior court and Cascade.
The training is an extension of the office’s dedication to an issue of immense importance. The state is struggling to house those with mental illness.
“It’s extremely important because we’re seeing a lot of people who are having mental health issues in the county and we just want to have all the tools we can in our toolbox to deal with them the most appropriately and in the best way for everybody,” Chief Deputy Stacy Brown, of the Sheriff’s Office, told The Chronicle.
We’re pleased to see the office’s continued focus on an important area of policing. The training could prevent a poor outcome for someone who needs help, not a clash with law enforcement.
