How Are CPD Officers Trained To Handle Residents With Mental Illness?

By Nereida Moreno
CPD training
Chicago Police officers often serve as first responders to residents experiencing mental health crises. Bill Healy / WBEZ
CPD training
Chicago Police officers often serve as first responders to residents experiencing mental health crises. Bill Healy / WBEZ

How Are CPD Officers Trained To Handle Residents With Mental Illness?

By Nereida Moreno
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Chicago Police officers often serve as first responders to residents experiencing  mental health crises.

So, how are officers trained to handle crisis intervention? And what resources are available for residents or family members of those dealing with mental health conditions?

A draft consent decree proposal released last month could change the way Chicago police officers respond to people with mental illness by reducing use of force and connecting them to proper resources.

Morning Shift discusses those proposed changes as well as other provisions in the consent decree aimed at aiding police officers dealing with mental health crises themselves.

GUEST: Alexa James, licensed clinical social worker, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Chicago and former member of the mayor-appointed Police Accountability Task Force

LEARN MORE: Consent Decree proposal (pages 21-42)

Chicago police union head blasts proposed CPD reform plan, vows court fight (Chicago Tribune 7/28/18)