MEMPHIS, Tenn. — More Memphis police officers will use a safer and calmer approach when confronting people with mental illness.
This comes at a time when law enforcement across the country is being criticized for doing the opposite: using too much force in tense situations like the one in Florida this week.
Today, more than two dozen officers completed training and are no on the Crisis Intervention team for Memphis.
The officers are taught to approach a scene with empathy and self control. They subdue those they come face to face with.
“Our officers talk jumpers off the bridge. They talk individuals out of harming themselves. They talk individuals out of harming their loved ones,” said interim Director Mike Rallings.
MPD launched CIT in 1988.
It was designed by health providers and researchers.
Through the years, we’ve watched MPD put the training to use in various situations.
Most recently, MPD used the methods when thousands of protesters stormed the I-40 bridge.
“We took what we learned in CIT and applied it to that situation. That was he most impactful one in my life,” said Rallings.
Memphis police paved the way. Departments across the world now trying similar programs.
MPD trains its own as well as other officers in the Mid-South.
The law enforcement you certified Friday, are from MPD, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Reserve, Airport Police, U of M, Hernando and Horn Lake.
“We are probably estimating about 3,500 programs across the United States. They all have a reflection of the Memphis model,” said Sam Cochran, a retired CIT coordinator.
More than 250 MPD officers in every precinct have been through the 40-hour CIT training course.
Those officers immediately become team leaders in tense situations.
They even carry non-lethal weapons like the SL-6 gun that fires plastic bullets and bean bags. Some carry Tazers too
“It can end in tragedy, but I can tell you you know we are making 4000+ transports a year taking individuals that are in crisis to get them help,” said Rallings.
