Creating the Milwaukee Police Department Advanced Crisis Intervention Team

The City of Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) as lead applicant in partnership with the Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Services proposes to develop an advanced crisis intervention team (CIT) training program to equip police officers to better identify and respond to behavioral health calls with the goal to reduce police use of force, divert individuals from jail and the criminal justice system, and reduce involuntary admissions to Milwaukee County Mental Health.  The proposal requests $250,000 in federal funds to prepare 100+ police officers with enhanced skills to effectively interact with individuals in crisis demonstrating behavioral health conditions, and/or intellectual, developmental, or physical disabilities.  This approach will connect individuals in crises with appropriate behavioral health services and community resources to achieve more meaningful and empowered individual outcomes and a safer community.  Participating MPD officers will have completed a minimum 40 hours of prior CIT and demonstrate a willingness to be a lead responder to behavioral health calls at the district level.  The MPD will follow the planning and implementation approach to develop and deliver advanced crisis response training curriculum based on evaluation and review of national best practices.  The MPD’s Crisis Assessment Response Team will conduct site visits to two leading law enforcement agencies in behavior health co-response to learn innovative best practices.  This information will be shared with behavioral health and community partners to develop a relevant curriculum for Milwaukee.  Upon approval by BJA, the MPD and its partners will implement the finalized advanced CIT training program to selected police officers.  The MPD is a first time applicant for the Crisis Response Intervention Training grant.