Area law enforcement take crisis training courses

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Police officers often face unpredictable situations while on patrol.

Local agencies are hoping that a specialized course can help them navigate them better.

Dozens of officers and other first responders from several local agencies finished a week-long training course from the Crisis Intervention Team Training School.

A law enforcement officer receiving their certificate for completing a Crisis Intervention Training program.

The course specializes in Crisis Intervention Training, which police say gives officers tools to be better equipped to deal with people in mental health crises.

Lieutenant Tim Tomisek of the Chattanooga Police Department, the Commander of the Intelligence Division, said, “A lot of times when we think about (those with mental crises), we think about someone that is suffering from psychosis and things and certainly that’s part of it but there’s much more to it than that. 

Police say officers trained through scenario-based role plays where they were presented various situations they may encounter while on patrol.

Ben Philyaw, a Chattanooga Police patrol officer, said, “Today’s situation we were met with a disorder, an active disorder, but an assault was being claimed, and there was a mental health aspect. It really just allowed us to be hit with several different factors at one time. “

Officers who took part say this will benefit them.

Gillian Roberts, a Park Ranger with Tennessee State Parks said, “I can think back to some calls that I ran and understand more now, “Hey, they were having a mental health crisis and I probably should have approached that differently.””

The impact of the training will go beyond the officers who will use it, but also by local judges who see mental health cases in their courtrooms.

Hamilton County General Sessions Judge Lila Statom told officers, “I’ll have people come into the courtroom, they will fight my deputies, they will curse me out, they have no idea who they are, and those individuals if you can divert them… it is huge.”

Since late 2021, CPD has had a specialized unit called the Crisis Co-Response Unit.

They say since its creation, dozens of people have been prevented from going to jail or local emergency rooms.