Warning: Constant ABSPATH already defined in /home/flanews/public_html/wp-config.php on line 34
Capitol News Service » Blog Archive » Push for More Mental Health Training for Law Enforcement Officers Moves Forward

Welcome to

Capitol News Service

Florida's Best Political Coverage on Television

 


 


 


Recent Posts

RSS Quote of the Day

  • Charles Baudelaire
    "Everything that is beautiful and noble is the product of reason and calculation."
  • Wilson Mizner
    "The best way to keep your friends is not to give them away."
  • Benjamin Disraeli
    "Silence is the mother of truth."
  • H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
    "Never forget the three powerful resources you always have available to you: love, prayer, and forgiveness."

Push for More Mental Health Training for Law Enforcement Officers Moves Forward

February 8th, 2018 by Jake Stofan

One in five inmates in local jails suffer from severe mental illness. For the officers on the front lines, it can be difficult to distinguish between a violent criminal and someone who is mentally ill.

 

“One of them in particular, who is very close who is very close to me is six-foot three… If you don’t know the signs of mental illness and you see this young man and you think he’s acting out… you may use force that’s not necessary,” said State Senator Bobby Powel.

An incident where a caretaker in Miami was shot by police while trying to get his autistic patient out of the street prompted the passage of autism training for law enforcement officers last year. Now, lawmakers want to make sure police are trained to recognize all mental illness.

 

“The key here is to help law enforcement officers become sensitive,” said Barney Bishop with the Florida Smart Justice Alliance.

Police are already trained to identify mental illness when they go through basic training. New legislation would require them to get a refresher every four years.

 

“As we evolve we want to make sure that our public safety officers have the best information available,” said Sen. Powell.

Legislation approved by a Senate committee Thursday requires the department of law enforcement to develop the training, but advocates say the training should be given by mental health professionals.

Advocates say the option is already available… for free.

 

“We have many community mental health centers statewide who already provide that training at no cost to law enforcement,” said Melanie Brown-Woofter with the Florida Council for Community Mental Health.

Police now undergo 40 hours of training every four years, if approved the mental health training could be included in the 40 hours or added to it.

If passed the training would being being required in October of this year.

Posted in State News | No Comments »

Comments are closed.

copyright © 2016 by Capitol News Service | Powered by Wordpress | Hosted by LyonsHost.com