A new legal mandate in the CA Penal Code requires “the field training officers who provide instruction in the field training program to have at least eight hours of crisis intervention behavioral health training to better train new peace officers on how to effectively interact with persons with mental illness or intellectual disability. This course shall include classroom instruction and instructor-led active learning, such as scenario-based training, and shall be taught in segments that are at least four hours long.” During August to October, all 10 of the ECPD Field Training Officers will be attending this course with the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office and/or the Concord PD.

At the end of May, the ECPD held two 8-hour Crisis Intervention Training sessions for police personnel. And Detective Sergeant Ian Wong has been providing instructional support to the facilitation staff at the Commission on P.O.S.T.