WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. -- They're words that make up the fiber of our being; compassion, humanization, communication, but when it comes to responding to a vulnerable section of our population, those who are mentally ill, law enforcement sometimes misses the mark.
"Been in those situations where we're fighting with someone when we could have just calmed the situation down,” Lt. Amber Beyer said.
Crisis Services is hoping to change that mindset by training police officers across Erie County using a CIT, or Crisis Intervention Team, model. Cheektowaga was the first to take part in 2013, and the program has grown from there.
"Talking about the signs and symptoms of mental illness, how to respond appropriately, really utilizing empathy,” said Sarah Bonk, a CIT crisis case manager. “And then relying on crisis services partners when we do encounter people with mental illness in the community."
Buffalo police's B-District signed up for the latest training this week. They learned things like how to calm folks in crisis and referring them to appropriate health care options.
"Help them through their situations, get them counseling, into programs,” Lt. Michael Farley said. “Going to help us out tremendously improving quality of life."
Additionally, training promotes the decriminalization of individuals, highlighting that need for a treatment-first approach.
"Maybe not attending a counseling appointment just because they didn't have that mental capacity to remember to go to that appointment and they're back in the criminal justice system all because of that," Beyer said. "That's not where they need to be."
Almost every law enforcement agency in the county has been CIT trained, minus two departments. Lieutenants Beyer and Farley hope the rest of BPD has the chance to take part soon.
"We're going to have a large impact," Farley said. "It's going to take a lot of pressure off of the infrastructure of our city and county."