COVENTRY – The R.I. Department of Mental Health Retardation and Hospitals is sponsoring a three-day seminar for law enforcement officers Sept. 24 through 26 aimed at training police to understand, recognize and respond to mental-health issues they encounter in their work.
The seminar, to be conducted in collaboration with Northern Rhode Island Community Services and the Coventry Police Department, is designed as a “train the trainer” program – with the goal of having its graduates go on to educate their peers.
“The purpose of this seminar is to improve safety; decrease the likelihood of physical confrontations and use of force; and improve awareness of the stigma associated with mental illness,” said Craig Stenning, acting director of MHRH, in a news release. “Providing law enforcement with the knowledge and tools to assess individuals with mental illness will enhance the safety of law enforcement and individuals, and improve communication between law enforcement and the mental health community.”
The seminar will be held at the Coventry police station and will be taught by Richard Crino, vice president of adult behavioral health services at Northern Rhode Island Community Services, who has been training law enforcement officers statewide for five years.
All seminar participants who complete the program will be able to apply for certification as a Trained Certified Crisis Responder, enabling individuals to train and prepare other law enforcement officers for behavioral health crisis situations. It is the goal to certify at least one trainer for every police department throughout the state. MHRH will host additional seminars in the community throughout the year.
