Keeping the mentally-ill safe

MORRISVILLE >> Police are supposed to send bad guys to jail. But what are they supposed to do when the bad guy is not a villain, but instead mentally ill?

Aweek-long training seminar held at the Morrisville State campus helped prepare law enforcement for just that: encounters with mentally disturbed subjects.

Sponsored by the Madison County Department of Community Mental Health, the weeklong training included members of the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, the Oneida City Police Department, Morrisville State Police Department, the Chittenango Police Department, and state probation.

Madison County Director of CommunityMental Health Teisha Cook explained that the seminar was designed to train police for how to deal with the emotionally disturbed. Often times, police are the first ones to arrive on the scene of a call. They are the first to encounter the subject and need to be prepared for how to interact with someone suffering from a mental illness.

One of the major goals of the 40-hour, 5-day training seminar is to help “officers to be able to respond to scenes where we can diffuse the situation before it escalates,” said Madison County Sheriff Allen Riley. The training, Riley said, will help police answer the following questions as they pertain to subjects with mental health con-

cerns: What does it look like? How do I interact with the subject?

Both Riley and Cook spoke of how increasing awareness of mental disorders and increase in diagnoses within the past decade has generated the need for police to receive specialized training to better serve the public. Riley said that when he went through the police academy, law enforcement did not receive much training, but now, there is a push for it.

“This is much needed training,” Riley said.

Following the completion of the course, law enforcement officials received certification through the New York State Office of Mental Health.

Madison County Sheriff’s Deputy Darrin Ladd commented on one of his biggest takeaways on Friday.

“You realize they’re people too,” he said of responding to calls involving the mentally ill or disturbed. He added that in such scenarios it is important to show that as a law enforcement official, you care about their welfare. Maintaining eye contact and not speaking too quickly were two ways he brought up that could help ensure the situation does not escalate.

“They’re calling [the police] because they want help,” he said.

Oneida Police Officers Jeff Barres and Matt Gacek also discussed important aspects for law enforcement to remember when interacting with a subject who maybe mentally ill. Both spoke of the need to be able to empathize with the subject and understand how little they know of what happens in a subject’s life prior to the initial encounter. Furthermore, both Barres and Cacek noted the importance of following up on a mentally disturbed individual after that first interaction.

“It’s more than just getting them to the hospital. It’s about keeping their mental health squared away so they can live,” Gacek said. “Follow up care is key.”

Both Oneida City Police officers said they were more aware of mental health programs they could recommend subjects to for follow-up care and health.

Riley and Cook plan to hold the class annually.

The following law enforcement officials received training at this inaugural course: • Althea Bentley - Probation • Jeff Barres - Oneida City Police • Matt Gacek- Oneida City Police • Caitlin Clark- Morrisville State Police

• Tim McCarthy - Chittenango Police Department

• Linda Moore-Madison County Sheriff’s

• Josh Paul - Madison County Sheriff’s

• Darrin Ladd-Madison County Sheriff’s

JOHN BREWER — ONEIDA DAILY DISPATCH Law enforcement representatives from across Madison County attended a week long training seminar on how to deal with subjects they encounter who may be mentally ill.