Police-Encounters-With-People-In-Crisis

However, the Review also heard that longer training means taking officers out of the
field, which can be a problem for public safety and effective policing.
34. As discussed above, it is important to acknowledge the interrelationship between
training and the other variables that affect the behaviour of officers and the individuals
they are called to assist. In light of that multi-faceted framework, many of the Review's
recommendations regarding training are discussed in other chapters, such as the
consideration of requiring mandatory mental health first aid certification as addressed
in Chapter 6 (Selection of Police Officers), and offering crisis intervention training to a
larger proportion of officers as discussed in Chapter 11 (MCIT and Other Models of
Crisis Intervention).
35. That interrelationship was also reflected in many of the submissions made to the
Review. More than one stakeholder suggested that use of force training has not changed
in over two decades. This critique appears to be directed more at the Use of Force Model
and guidelines implemented by the Province, 29 and less at the curricula at the OPC or
TPC, which clearly have changed in that time period. The information given to the
Review demonstrates that police training in areas such as use of force, people in crisis
and mental health issues is continually analyzed, updated and refined. In fact, training
was referred to by one stakeholder as a “moving target” because it changes so frequently
that it is difficult to measure its effectiveness. Other stakeholders have pointed to the
introduction of the crisis resolution course, training on mental illnesses and symptoms
and involvement of people with lived experience of mental illness as positive changes in
recent years.
36. The Review received some very specific suggestions, including modifying the
practice of teaching officers to shoot at a subject’s chest in order to reduce the likelihood
of death from shootings. However, this change would also decrease the likelihood that
an officer would hit the subject when shooting, potentially endangering the officer and
members of the public.
37. Other comments involved the curriculum design process at the TPC, including a
perception that the police hierarchy does not facilitate upstream feedback on training
programs or encourage constructive criticism from within the Service. A related concern
was raised that trainers at the police colleges are not consulted when curriculum
changes are being considered. Another stakeholder echoed the suggestion of academics
in this field that training should be customized to reflect officers’ varying educational,
professional, and life experience.
38. A further suggestion was to improve the education officers receive on civil mental
health legislation—including officers’ obligations, options and opportunities for
discretion. These comments stem from the fact that thousands of apprehensions are
made each year under the Mental Health Act and result in transfers of care to hospitals.
39. At the divisional level, the Review heard that the availability of decentralized
training may depend on the approach taken by supervisors responsible for a particular
29
See Chapter 10 (Use of Force).
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