1. A Tale of Two Cities: Cops and Co-Responders
CIT international Conference 2017
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

2. Overview of Olathe, KS PD
Population of 136,000
Suburban community in Johnson County
Covers 61 square miles
Responds to 40,000 CFS annually
Completes approximately 20,000 reports
211 employees – 182 officers and 29 civilians
Patrol Division is the largest with officers
RM/RQ

3. Overview of Kansas City, KS PD
Population of 150,000 +
Urban community in the heart of Kansas City Metro located in Wyandotte County
Covers 129 square miles
Responds to 141,000 CFS annually
Completes approximately 20,000 reports
369 sworn personnel and 75 civilians
Patrol Division is the largest with 134 officers
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4. Crime Statistics 2016
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5. CIT in Kansas
Close to 1130 law enforcement officers, first responders and care providers have been trained throughout the state
First council was in Johnson County with the first training in 2005 (Kansas Law Enforcement CIT Council)
There are now Councils in Leavenworth Co, Wyandotte Co, Douglas Co, Saline Co and Shawnee Co
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6. CIT in Olathe, KS CIT program started in 2009
Initially trained 20% of officers in patrol division
33% of patrol officers are currently trained
We are working on training all sworn personnel in Mental Health First Aid
All recruits will be trained in MHFA at the Academy starting in August 2017
CIT Unit formed in 2015, includes 11 officers, a Sgt, a Capt and Co-responders
RM/RQ

7. CIT in Kansas City, KS CIT started in Kansas City, Kansas in 2012
Initially, we trained the officers who volunteered for the program, typically around 25%
In 2015, after several national incidents in which individuals suffering from a mental crisis were killed by police, the KCKPD decided to switch to a mandatory model of CIT training
Currently 70% of KCKPD sworn personnel are CIT trained, as well as dispatch center personnel
KCKPD has instituted Mental Health First Aid training for Police Recruits
After months as an officer they are then sent to CIT training
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8. How Olathe PD did business before CIT
If the citizen was not going to cause on-going issues we would HBO using any means to appease such as magic spray, carry ghosts outside, check for snakes in furniture, etc. No report taken.
If the person was going to cause repeat CFS or be a danger to anyone, try to find PC for any in custody arrest and take them to jail. The mental health component not documented or addressed
No HBO/no arrest, call JCMHC Crisis Line for phone assessment and transport to nearest ER for a face to face assessment
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9. How KCK PD did business before CIT
Respond to the call. If a crime was committed, make the arrest and book the person.
In law enforcement this has become a national issue as the jail systems have become the community’s largest mental health facility. This holds true in Kansas City, Kansas.
If a person was in a mental crisis the officer would play along to try and satisfy the person in hopes of moving to the next call.
Examples
Using their portable radio as a detector for aliens, bad guys, spying devices, etc
Saying they spoke to the person that the citizens saw as a hallucination
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10. What about the Mental Health Centers?
Lack of understanding about police procedure and priorities
Unrealistic expectations of officer response
Miscommunication due to use of different lingo
Fear of involving police in mental health crises
Lack of collaboration between agencies
Resulting in frustration, tension and lack of trust between law enforcement and mental health
MR/KR

11. The Role of Community Mental Health Centers in Kansas
Serves as the local mental health authority coordinating the delivery of publicly funded outpatient and community-based mental health services
Serves as the communities “safety net” for mental health needs by providing services to all SPMI individuals needing services, regardless of their ability to pay, as mandated by the State
Serves as the “gatekeeper” to the State hospital by assessing each individual prior to admission in an attempt to utilize community options whenever possible to provide the least restrictive environment to meet the individual’s needs
KR/KR

12. Problem to Solve
How can we prevent those whose primary issue is mental illness from entering the criminal justice system?
In 2010 applied for the Criminal Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program Grant
Funded through the Bureau of Justice Assistance
Grant was awarded in October 2010
Olathe PD was chosen for the project
First Co-Responder in Kansas was hired in July 2011
KR/MR

13. Mental Health Co-Responders
Bridge the gap between mental health and law enforcement
Assist law enforcement with difficult mental health related calls
Help prevent a situation from escalating into a crime and a citizen going to jail, when what they need is mental health treatment
Identify and assist individuals and families that are in need of mental health services in the community
Address suicide prevention
MR/KR

14. CIT/Co-Responder Program Goals
Reduce repeated calls for service to same individuals (20% decrease)
Increase officer safety (CIT Training and info provided by CR)
Reduce defensive actions toward citizens that exhibit mental health symptoms
Reduce time officers spend in ER
Enhance the level and availability of services provided in each community
Provide the right intervention at the right time
KR/MR

15. Co-Responder on the scene
Provides mobile, community-based crisis intervention services to divert from unnecessary emergency room visits and jail bookings by providing crisis intervention and assessment in the least restrictive setting and in the least intensive manner
Conducting a mental status exam
Assessing the factors of a crisis; including psychiatric, substance use, social, familial, legal/court related and environmental factors
Considering safety concerns and medication compliance
Assessing behavior, current functioning at home, school and in the community
Identification of professional and natural supports, strengths and coping skills
MR/KR

16. Co-Responder will also…
Link citizens/families with appropriate community resources
Coordinate an intake for services with the MHC if needed
Notify the treatment team for those who are current clients
Conduct follow up/outreach with citizens/families following a police contact for mental health reasons with differences in Olathe and KCK protocols
KR/KR

17. Olathe, KS Co-Responder Activity
July 2011 – June 2017
Total Calls: 2148
KR/MR

18. Kansas City, KS Co-Responder Activity
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19. Olathe PD Outcomes
KR/ALL

20. Benefits not reflected in the data
Citizens gain
Knowledge of resources available
A point of contact for questions and concerns
Increased trust in the MHC and law enforcement
Community gains
Decreased use of hospital ER for MH reasons
Increased access for citizens with MH concerns
Diversions from jail
Law Enforcement
Increased education/training about MH
Increased awareness of resources available
Improved collaborative responses to citizens in crisis
Mental Health Center
Increased awareness of how to interact with LEO
Realistic expectations of collaborative efforts with LEO
Increased ability to identify and intervene with citizens in need of MH services
ALL/RQ

21. CIT Cops and Co-Responders Working Together
Making our community better!
Reduction of repeat Calls For Service
Decreased response time for district units
Freeing up manpower by providing a solution
Connecting individuals to resources and services and having agencies follow up with these individuals
Promoting officer and community safety utilizing collaboration, communication, and de-escalation skills
Strengthening community trust and collaboration
Growing and highlighting community partnerships through safe resolutions for all parties involved
RQ/KR

22. Officer Response to Co-Responder Assistance for Olathe PD
KR/MR

23. Officer Response to Co-Responder Assistance for KCK PD
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24. Looking to the future in Olathe
Second part-time Co-Responder started July 17
Further increase Outreach efforts
Expand CIT Unit to include more patrol officers
Full time CIT officers paired with Co-Responders
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25. Words of wisdom
“The Mental Health Co-Responder program has had a game changing impact on the quality of outcomes for those in crisis. The value added by co- responders is measurable and in many cases life changing.”
Olathe Chief of Police, Steven Menke
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26. Looking to the future in KCK
Will have a full-time CIT officer August 2017
Hopes of adding a second co-responder
Have our entire department CIT trained
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27. Words of wisdom
"The CIT program is important to our Department’s community policing and de-escalation philosophy. We want to help our citizens get connected to the social services they need to live as normal of a life as possible. This helps reduce calls for service and keeps the entire community safe. It is hard to believe it has taken so long for a program like CIT to really gain momentum because it just makes sense. I never thought that the PD would have a mental health professional on staff, but we do and it is helping us.” KCK Chief of Police, Terry Zeigler RQ

28. Questions
Ask anything and everything…. Just don’t expect us to have all the answers

29. Contact Information
Major Rance Quinn, KCK PD
Officer Rob McKeirnan, Olathe PD
Mandy Rosenbaum, Wyandot Center
Kimberly Rowlands, Johnson County Mental Health
Kimberly Rowlands, Johnson County Mental Health