In the aftermath of public controversy over the police shooting of mentally distressed army reservist James E. Dean, 29, the day after Christmas, St. Mary’s Sheriff Tim Cameron is organizing a training program for his force in collaboration with local agencies and the Maryland Mental Hygiene Administration. The program will also be available to Maryland State Police troopers and the Department of Defense Police who work at Pax River.
At a meeting on March 8, the Mental Health Authority of St. Mary’s (MHASM) and National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) discussed with Cameron, a half-day training program for his personnel. Christina St. Clair, acting executive director of the MHASM, and Capt. Constance Walker, president of NAMI, were present at this crucial meeting.
St. Clair and Walker wrote a joint follow-up letter to Cameron, which was forwarded to the St. Mary’s Board of County Commissioners. According to the letter, Cameron supports the training program and the MHASM expects to finalize the deal with the sheriff’s office.
Dr. Richard Ortega, chief of policy and clinical affairs at the Office of Forensic Services, Maryland Mental Hygiene Administration, is the instructor for the course.
Cameron and the MHASM agreed that Dr. Ortega’s training is only the first step towards beginning the collaborative effort required to implement an integrated Crisis Intervention Team (CIT community) program in St. Mary’s County. The two sides discussed using concepts and ideas from what is called the CIT Memphis Model.
“May 23rd or 24th are the tentative dates as Ms. St. Clair will have to verify with the instructor,” Special Operations Commander Willenborg, who discussed the training program dates with St. Clair on Thursday morning, told The Bay Net. May was selected because it’s “Mental Health Awareness” month.
“We discussed the need for inclusion of information on [Post Traumatic Stress Disorder] within the community and police force, and in regard to returning Veterans,” the letter said. Additional topics will include “Emergency Petitions” and “Dealing with Individuals with Mental Illness.” Willenborg said each class would have a four-hour block of instruction.
“We are looking at four different classes on the two days. It will be open to the Maryland State Police as well as the Department of Defense Police from the base,” Willenborg said.
He said the program will enhance understanding of dealing with persons who are suicidal or despondent. He said once an emergency petition is put into effect, the person needing help is transported to the St. Mary’s Hospital.
The CIT Memphis Model goal is to set a standard of excellence for officers with respect to treatment of individuals with mental illness by establishing individual responsibility for each event and overall accountability for the results.
The CIT is made up of volunteer officers from each patrol unit. CIT officers are called upon to respond to crisis calls that present officers with complex issues relating to mental illness. Due to the specialized training, CIT officers can, with confidence, offer a more humane and calm approach when dealing with the mentally ill.