AMHERST, N.Y. -- Police officers from across Western New York are taking a 32-hour mental health crisis training course all week, at UB's North Campus. It focuses on teaching officers to recognize the signs of a person in crisis; to listen, empathize and assist.
"There's a lot of focus de-escalation through active listening and empathy, skills like that that can help an officer de-escalate a person that's in crisis," said UB Deputy Chief of Police Josh Sticht.
Adduci says about 300 officers in Erie County have taken the training, which is not mandatory in New York state.