Training program helps cops deal with people with mental-health issues

YOUNGSTOWN — Youngstown Police officer Michael Anderson is one of 25 officers from nine county police departments who graduated today from the Crisis Intervention Training program, aimed at helping law enforcement officers deal more effectively with people with mental-health issues.

The purposes of the weeklong Crisis Intervention Training are to ensure officer safety and provide de-escalation techniques police can use to calm mental health patients.

Anderson, a 14-year veteran of the force, said as a policeman he is usually “mellowed out” or in “enforcer mode” without much middle ground.

He said the CIT program provided tools to help him talk to and calm down people with mental health issues.

For the complete story, read Saturday's Vindicator and Vindy.com