Crisis Response and Intervention Training focuses on mental health

One of the County’s primary goals is to integrate treatment and accountability with a combination of modern facilities and new services and supports in the justice system. County deputies recently participated in the Corvallis Police Department’s Crisis Response and Intervention training opportunity.

Crisis Response Intervention Training equips law enforcement officers to better understand and interact with those in our communities who experience developmental or intellectual disabilities and those who are experiencing a mental health crisis.

“There’s not a day that goes by where I don’t have an opportunity to use these tools and techniques,” said Benton County Sheriff’s Deputy Colin Tominey. The training focuses on topics such as mental health, trauma and post-traumatic stress, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and substance use disorders. “In law enforcement, we have two choices when responding to a person experiencing a crisis: take them to the hospital if they are sick or a danger to themselves, or take them to jail if they are committing a crime,” Tominey explained. “We need additional resources, like a drop-in crisis center and support programs, to give us that viable third option.” View the June 1, 2022 media coverage on KEZI.