Police-Encounters-With-People-In-Crisis

(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)
Use of Force: making more clear that the Use of Force Model is a
code of conduct that carries (i) a goal of not using lethal force and
(ii) a philosophy of using as little non-lethal force as possible; and
that the Model is not meant to be used as a justification for the use
of any force;
Firearm Avoidance: implementing dynamic scenario training in
which a recruit does not draw a firearm, as a means of emphasizing
the non-lethal means of stabilizing a situation and reducing the
potential for over-reliance on lethal force;
Fear: including discussions of officers’ fear responses during
debriefings of practical scenarios that required de-escalation and
communication techniques to defuse a crisis situation;
Stigma: addressing and debunking stereotypes and stigmas
concerning mental health. For example, the TPC could build on its
use of video presentations involving people with mental health
issues by adding interviews with family members of people who
have encountered police during crisis situations and police officers
who were present during a crisis call that resulted or could have
resulted in serious injury or death;
Experience and Feedback: incorporating mental health and crisis
situations into a larger number of practical scenarios to provide
recruits with more exposure to, and feedback on, techniques for
resolving such situations; and
Culture: laying the foundation for the culture the TPS expects its
officers to promote and embody, and preparing recruits to resist the
aspects of the existing culture that do not further TPS goals and
values with respect to interactions with people in crisis.
RECOMMENDATION 16: The TPS consider whether officers would benefit
from additional tools to assist them in responding to crisis calls, such as a quickreference
checklist for dealing with people in crisis that reminds officers to
consider: whether the person is demonstrating signs of fear versus intentional
aggression; whether medical, background and family contact information is
available; whether alternative communication techniques are available when
initial attempts at de-escalation are unsuccessful; whether containment of the
person and the scene is a viable option; and whether discretion should be used in
determining whether to apprehend, arrest, divert or release the person in crisis.
RECOMMENDATION 17: The TPS consider whether the 20-week recruit
training period should be extended to allow sufficient time to teach all topics and
skills required for the critically important work of a police officer.
Police Encounters With People in Crisis |154