Download 2011 Police Department Annual Report (2 MB PDF)

CRISIS INTERVENTION TRAININGCrisis Intervention Training is a program whereby police officersare provided training to deal with individuals with mental illnesses.Included in the training are the procedures for conflict resolution,de-escalation, and active listening. The officers are then informed ofthe resources available to the mental health patient and their family.The purpose of the program is to attempt to divert mentally illpeople from the criminal justice system, if appropriate, and find them suitable treatment.Records and Identification Bureau Commander, Lt. Cavanaugh and Manuela Garciaof the Mental Health Association of Essex County, partnered to convene a summit with 35different agencies consisting of Law Enforcement and Mental Health professionals.This event, a first in the history of Essex County, was attended by the Essex CountyProsecutor, Judges, Psychiatrists, Licensed Clinical social workers and high rankingofficials from such agencies as UMDNJ, Newark Beth Israel, East Orange Generalhospital, The Mental Health Association of Essex, NAMI, N.J. Transit Police, Newark Police.The outcome of the two part summit resulted in cooperation among the variousagencies, the institution of a formal C.I.T. training program to commence in the spring of2012, and a dissemination of information regarding agencies available to assist the policein dealing with a person or their family involved in a mental health crisis.ACTIVE SHOOTER TRAININGAs the nation observed the 12th anniversary of the ColumbineHigh School massacre in 2011, the Montclair Police Departmentutilized the Montclair High School, which is largely empty for springbreak, as a training ground to prepare for a similar, nightmarishmass-shooting scenario. The one-day drill, coordinated by leadersand members of the Department’s tactical Critical Response Team,cross-trained patrol officers and detectives how to immediately andspontaneously convene tactical teams, enter into a crowded building,and deal with an armed suspect who has either opened fire, or is threatening to shoot.Officers were instructed how to rapidly and effectively convene ad-hoc teams of four,five or six officers upon arrival at a shooting scene, and navigate through a crowdedbuilding, which may have erupted into panic and pandemonium, during such a crisis.Enhancing the realism of the training, officers were armed with replica duty handgunsloaded with simmunitions” that replaced live service ammunition with projectiles thatsplatter a small amount of red or blue paint on contact.16