Grand Jury Donn G Peterson*

Recommendations 3

• R1

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  UPD concurs with this recommendation. In the past, UPD had been at the table during discussions regarding crisis intervention and de-escalation training. UPD values both crisis intervention and de-escalation training and all sworn members received the training before it was discontinued. UPD is prepared to reengage with county-wide law enforcement partners, mental illness stakeholders, and the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services to create and offer a consistent, comprehensive, relevant, and culturally sensitive training program. 2.
• R2

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  Recognizing that they are often the very first point of contact for those in crisis and/or those who are requesting service, UPD concurs with the concept of including communications center professionals (dispatchers) in this training and commits to full participation of the communication center professionals assigned to UPD. 3.
• R3

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  UPD wholeheartedly agrees with and endorses this recommendation. The past practice of offering an initial training is a good start and needs to be reestablished. However, this training needs to be supplemented with recurring perishable skills training (recommended every two years at a minimum). While the 4-day training may have value for those initially receiving it, it makes less sense to have an officer or dispatcher, who has previously participated, to sit through the entire 4- day program again as a part of our on-going perishable skills training. We endorse the concept of supplementing the initial course with a four to eight hour training that could be provided as a reinforcement to officers that would cover legal updates, case studies, best practices, and update officers on changes in local resources.