Crisis Intervention Policy Communications Center Impacts

Crisis Policy Intent The intent of this policy is to provide resources to deal with subjects who are in behavioral crisis. This includes people exhibiting signs of mental illness, as well as people suffering from substance abuse and personal crises.

Definitions For the purposes of this policy, a behavioral health crisis is defined as an episode of mental and/or emotional distress in a person that is creating significant or repeated disturbance and is considered disruptive by the community, friends, family or the person themselves.

16.110 – POL 5.1 Responding to Subjects in Behavioral Crisis Upon Encountering a Subject in Any Type of Behavioral Crisis During Any Type of Incident (0n-View or Dispatched), Officers Shall Make Every Reasonable Effort to Request the Assistance of CIT-Certified Officers Q: What does this mean? A: If an officer encounters a person in crisis and that officer is not CIT-certified, they shall request a CI-certified officer for the scene. Dispatchers are required to locate and dispatch a CIT-certified officer, cross precinct dispatching as necessary. Examples of CIT-certified required dispatch include CRISIS, SUIC1, SUIC. Those call types by definition will require the dispatch of CIT-certified officers. Any other call type may also require CIT-certified officers if there is a evidence that the incident involves a person in crisis (i.e. HAZ1, HAZ, WEAPN, WEAPN1) It is required under policy that dispatchers attempt to identify possible behaviors associated with a persons in behavioral crisis and dispatch CIT-certified officers if it is not requested by officers on scene.

16.110 – POL 5.2 Responding to Subjects in Behavioral Crisis Communications Shall Dispatch at Least One CIT-Certified Officer to Each Call That Appears to Involve a Subject in Behavioral Crisis Q: What does this mean? A: If circumstances dictate that there is not a CIT-Certified officer available to respond to a call that appears to involve a subject in behavioral crisis, non-CIT- Certified officers shall be dispatched to handle the call and a CIT-Certified officer shall respond as soon as possible. Calls that appear to involve a subject in behavioral crisis shall be dispatched immediately, even when a CIT-Certified officer is not available.

16.110 – POL 5.2.a Responding to Subjects in Behavioral Crisis A Sergeant and at Least Two Officers Shall Respond to Each High-Risk Suicide Call, one of which is CIT-certified (if available) What does this mean? A high-risk suicide call is one where the likelihood of suicide is imminent, and the subject may be armed with a weapon or may be barricaded. If, during the course of an incident, an officer determines that a subject meets the above criteria, he or she shall advise dispatch and request a sergeant and back-up.

Screening for Signs of Crisis Call Takers For applicable calls and after the initial screening, call takers should: Listen carefully Ask about mental health history Ask about substance abuse history Ask about military service, if applicable Always include this information in the call Reminders: Use short, simple phrases Make only one request/question at a time Give them time to answer No sarcasm Be respectful Keep your voice calm Watch your rate of speech

Screening for Signs of Crisis Reminders to ask about Has the subject’s behavior been described? If bizarre, then get further details of behavior to determine if hallucinations / delusions or other signs of mental illness are present. If behavior or information provided appears to suggest suicidal behaviors present, then ask for specific information about suicidal ideation or a past history of suicidal behaviors. Mental health history acknowledged. Euphemisms for mental illness (such as “nerves”) Diagnosis, if known. Treatment provider, if known. Medications, if known. Mental Health history not acknowledged. Medications (ask anyway even if mental health history not positive, often leads to diagnosis) Further description of behavior may be necessary to elicit symptoms of a mental illness related to the crisis event. Past Interventions What has worked in the past to help this individual when experiencing a crisis event?

Screening for Signs of Crisis Dispatchers After receiving the call from the call taker, the dispatcher should: Review the call for the words “mental health, mental illness, etc” in the call Evaluate for elements of behavioral crisis in the call Ask: “Does it look like a CIT-certified officer should be on the call?” If the answer is yes, dispatch a CIT-certified officer

Dispatching a CI-Certified Officer Identification and dispatch of CI-certified officer will be accomplished via an internal communications mechanism. The mechanism will be implemented and trained in person by communications personnel.

Summary The intent of the Crisis policy is to provide officers resources to assist with subjects who are in behavioral crisis. Never hold a priority call for the sake of having a CIT-certified officer responding as primary. If an officer encounters a person in crisis (on-viewed or having been dispatched to a non-crisis call), and they are not CIT-certified, they shall request a CIT-certified officer for the scene. Dispatchers are required to locate and dispatch a CI-certified officer, even if it means cross precinct dispatching.

Lessons Learned If any issues, policy clarification or business practice needs are identified, notify a communications unit supervisor. The communications unit supervision team will work with the Crisis Intervention Committee, Crisis Intervention Commander and Crisis Intervention Coordinator to identify solutions. The Crisis Intervention Commander and Crisis Intervention Coordinator can be reached via email at: spd_cit_coordniator@seattle.gov