A worker from a local restaurant, concerned about a threat to his family, takes a large kitchen knife to a busy White Plains intersection and flails it at no one in particular. A county-city program that helped prevent a tragedy wins an award.
The worker is approached by a city police officer who has just been trained in crisis intervention by the county's Department of Community Mental Health Forensic Service Unit and the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services.
The officer is able to defuse the situation and the worker is hospitalized. After treatment, the worker is able to return home and is connected to services.
The response to this real incident is an example of a collaborative program between the county and White Plains – a program that has now won a 2010 Local Government Achievement Award from the New York State Conference of Mayors. This program, officially called the Crisis Intervention Team- Police Mental Health Outreach program, will be recognized for its accomplishments by the mayors' group on May 16 in Saratoga Springs.
"Our crisis intervention program improves public safety and helps ensure that individuals get needed health, mental health and substance abuse treatment," said County Executive Robert P. Astorino. "Congratulations to Commissioner of Mental Health Grant Mitchell and the team."
White Plains Mayor Adam Bradley said, "I am very proud of the Crisis Intervention Team for winning this prestigious award. This further proves that the White Plains Department of Public Safety is being proactive in the fight to reduce crime. Through this program, they are able to connect people to the proper resources and services which prevent future crimes from taking place."
The Police Mental Health Outreach Program began in 2006. In 2009, the team made referrals for more than 290 individuals—a sharp increase from 60 in 2006. That outreach also helped homeless individuals whocame into contact with the police. In 2006, more than 280 homeless individuals had a police contact. In 2009, the number was 90.
Based on the success of White Plains, the City of Yonkers and the county Department of Community Mental Health also created a new police mental health outreach team. In its first four months that team had more than 200 contacts with individuals in crisis in the community.
The crisis intervention training for both communities is run by the county's Department of Community Mental Health, working with other state agencies and experts. Training is available to any police or public safety agency within Westchester County and the surrounding areas, depending on availability of funds.
Crisis intervention teams consist of police officers with enhanced training who respond to calls that may involve people with psychiatric or other types of emotional issues and may or may not include criminal activity. The Westchester team is unique in that it includes a mental health clinician. The team is therefore able to conduct evaluations in the field. The clinician can then assess if the individual is in need of emergency hospitalization. The clinician can also check on an individual's history to determine if mental health or related services had been previously provided. This allows for a quick referral and immediate connection to services.
The White Plains Department of Public Safety reports that 30 percent of all police officers have been trained in crisis intervention and that the program has helped reduce crime in the city, as well as injuries to police officers.