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2015 Annual Report • Police Department • St. Anthony Village, Minnesota <br /> <br /> <br />14 | Page <br /> <br />VII. Police Education Summary <br />PREPARED BY LT. JEFF SCHOLL <br />There are times that police situations can be <br />rapidly evolving, tense, and uncertain. <br />Depending on the situation, a police officer must <br />act and act quickly. Sometimes mistakes can take <br />place. In order to minimize mistakes, we train. <br />That said, an inherent flaw in police officers is <br />that they are human…and subject to human <br />frailties. <br />Training officers to deal with mental and <br />behavioral health issues was a priority this year. <br />Calls for assistance, welfare checks, disturbances, <br />domestics, run-aways, medicals and other like <br />service calls, places a front line officer on over <br />50% of the calls in direct contact with drug <br />impaired, mentally unstable, mentally ill, <br />psychotic, suicidal, and others in crisis. While <br />sitting in class, one may have thought that over <br />50% was on the high side. Officers deal with <br />mental health situations so frequently, it took a little <br />reflection on just how common these types of calls are. Today, half way through my shift, my <br />team transported a drunk male to jail. He was arrested after he caused an automobile crash. <br />Shortly after, we had a welfare check on an adult female asking for rides. She lived in a group <br />home. She intended to run away. Both she and the intoxicated male were not happy with <br />officers even though our only intent was to keep them safe. A half hour later a squad <br />responded to a suicidal female. She initially engaged us with less than flattering language. In <br />all three cases, however minor at the time, assessment strategies and intervention techniques <br />were used. A child custody dispute followed, and then a motorist having a seizure, followed <br />the mental health related calls. All of the calls had a common thread and our focus on mental <br />health training was pivotal to successful outcomes. At times it is not easy to be wearing blue. <br />Officers sometimes find it a little odd being taught by professionals on diversity, mental health, <br />and public relations. However, reflection, role playing strategies, and group discussion help us <br />serve our community. In addition to mental/behavioral health training, officers also received <br />training in leadership, critical incidents, de-escalation strategies, investigation, use of force, <br />firearms, ethics and integrity.