The MPD is building a new practice facility

In addition to the 50 acres out in the sticks, the leaving behind of horse manure in downtown Bistro District after fine massive riot gear turnout usual for most weekend nights, MPD is also doing something called Crisis Intervention Training, to help get along, or deal with those of us in the 5150 disability group.

I sometimes do awarenesss training on this with DRAIL.org and their program different than this, requires cops to do 40 hours of training on our particular group, which the Modest Bee article today, "Fresh tack helps hard problems" leaves out, we're more likely to be crime victims, but this is Modesto where drugs and crime sells papers.

Cops in MOdesto need training. JIm I started working on this in 2002, frankly for self defense, and pissed off by SWAT team killing of the Sepulveda kid.

To: Merrill Balassone, Modesto Bee Reporter, editors, etc.

Re: suggested follow up for your story, Mod Bee, July 22, 2006, Fresh Tack helps hard problems

Thank you for writing the story on MPD officers doing Crisis Intervention Training. I hope at some future date you might write a follow up as to what CIT actually entails, is suppose to accomplish, as in the original programs on which this is based, beginning with the Memphis, TN police dept, community education is a component of the program when implemented. This is a big step for MPD, and I am in favor of it.

search. www.nami.org for CIT programs and protocols. On my old website group, still up, documents related to CIT are posted at http://groups.msn.com/notesfromjim some of which were submitted beginning in 2003 to Dawn Cunningham, and MPD related to CIT Training, goes over the protocols for training. Some links on the www.geocities.com/scmhc2004 web site also note CIT protocols. Clients are generally in favor of this.

This includes protocols in most CIT programs nationwide for cops needing their own support group for shootings, trauma incidents, etc. In my origninal submission of materials on CIT, to MPD via BHRS and direct meeting with MPD officers, I covered over 10 CIT programs, nationwide (Portland, OR, Maine, Memphis, etc) listed on google, in detail. Most developed over incidents like the Sepulveda shooting, which was a reason I made an issue of it, as someone who is also a client. This includes some crazy rants to the Bee editorial staff in the past.

Some relation to what the CIT program is supposed to accomplish, over the local definition, is important. The original officers and Dawn Cunningham, then of BHRS director of Adult system of care, attended the San Jose CIT program training, 40 hours of training, at San Jose PD, in conjunction with San Jose State, NAMI Santa Clara and NAMI San Mateo. I gave these CIT program summaries to MPD in a meeting with Lt. Finnerty and Lt Lyons, Cunningham, suggested from write in to Chief Wasden and Keating, actual cost of attending program, open to outside agencies, at then $360 per officer. That was in 2003, and attendance by then four officers and Cunningham, got the ball rolling toward the current local program.

Without CIT, most officers at the academy, only receive 3 - 4 hours of training about disabled person, mental illness, despite high interaction with mental illness on the job. The drug offender angle is due to the high incidence of co-occuring drug and alcohol abuse with mentally ill offenders, and fact BHRS in our county handles same along with mental illness. It is not geared really for reaction with drug offenders, as the primary training. MH clients may be first time occurences of mental illness behavior, on psych meds, or untreated. Many also have cross disabilities such as epilepsy, diabetes, other disorders or health concerns, that would otherwise be mistaken for drug use, can be just as dangerous to clients, family and friends, and officers themselves.

My point is. 1. Community education and your report qualifies as this, is very important to the success of the program. A suggestion, perhaps a Modesto Bee reporter ask to take a session of the program classes, similar to idea of BHRS ride along mentioned in the article. Community members, clients, family members of clients are a part of training, relating stories, situations, scenarios from real events for awareness of the officers. There has been some difficulty in recruiting community members for this program, and that may be another angle to cover in a follow up. NAMI Stanislaus member Joyce Plis, is a member of this effort, and may be contacted via jplis@sbcglobal.net for details. My own problems, despite difficulties just in advocating CIT likely disqualified me for current training with program, but there are plenty of clients in the community to do the actual presentations, from a less biased version than mine, and I feel any training in CIT for MPD a benefit to us all.

2. To really see if this program is up to standards of other CIT programs elsewhere, as it is being developed as a Central Valley Regional program, likely to include MJC and CSUS assistance, as most programs include educational components from local university, college programs for accreditation, you might check in with San Mateo, and the San Jose MPD CIT program, the model for our local programs.

3. MPD is the first local agency to attend, but Sheriff, (Lt. Charlie Grom, of MH Board, designated by Wiedman to head Sheriff's CIT effort with BHRS participation to develop program regionally) and other PD agencies expected to implement program also . Ceres PD had disability awareness training through DRAIL which included me, as a presenter for the "5150" disability group. Ceres PD very interested and receptive to this DRAIL presentation, which covers dealing with other disability groups, and this was the first program on MH awareness available to county workers, PD in area prior to introduction of initial CIT training in San Jose, and our new CIT program. DRAIL still offers this program, of which MH presentation remains a part of presentation when presenters available, done quarterly for county staff.

I think PD would be interested in a follow up to their goal of training all officers, expanding the program. Recent legislation in last 4 years, called for mandatory 40 hours training in this regard, CIT not specified as program, but similar scope, without funding made it through the legislature, and suggested curriculum for POST standards.

Mental Illness is considered the largest of all disability groups in nation, although danger to selves "suicide" or victims of crime, is their largest component rather than criminal offenders. CIT programs typically go over this aspect of mental illness, as a component of Mentally ill as a victim of crime, trauma treatment may include need for BHRS service treatment, as well as witness interview considerations This aspect of what the program entails, or should if national CIT program protocols were followed, was not covered in your article.

The fact that community members (shopkeepers), family, friends of mentally ill victims, or offenders may call MPD for 2 programs, Restorative Policing, and now CIT, in what seem to be MH related situations, gives officers a better idea of who they may be dealing with on a call. This is a reason why community education on mental health, and on resources available for services ( a tie in to your recent United Way 211 story, which I had difficulties with as a client and worked on in my former capacity as original resource officer for SCMHC, Stanislaus Chapter of Mental Health clients, or which I am now an inactive member, but still operates out of 800 Scenic, Tricia Nugent, President, and as community volunteer for NAMI Stanislaus, found terribly frustrating in finding referral services, including MPD relations, and still frustrating to NAMI family members, especially as BHRS no longer fields a Family Advocate) is so important to the success of the program.

At any rate, I am glad the Bee covered this in local news, I support the CIT program effort, and encourage the Bee to do follow up in future,

James D. Christiansen

I'm a client, not affiliated with BHRS staff, Prop 63 Campaign leader, have had MPD contact, supporter of CIT awareness training presenter.

For background on further coverage.

c.c. Joyce Plis, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, Stanislaus
John Black, Recovery advocate, NAMI Stanislaus, clients network
Jack Waldorf, chairman of MH Board, Stanislaus County
Janice Keating, original contact with Chief Roy Wasden for my advocation of CIT in 2003

Other than for a change, short letter to the editor to follow, I'm just background, interested in success of this program, better relations between MPD and clients, and their mutual safety.