Handling a crisis: CIT training may lead to Mat-Su AST Task Force

WASILLA — Across the Mat-Su, state and country, law enforcement and emergency services personnel sometimes face scenarios where intervention can either escalate or de-escalate a situation. Here in the Mat-Su and surrounding areas, Alaska State Troopers (AST) have organized a week-long crisis intervention training (CIT) class to provide those personnel training on the topic.

AST Captain Hans Brinke said Valley EMTs, representatives from Palmer and Wasilla police departments, state troopers — local, South-Central and as far as Fairbanks and Sitka — and clinicians spent the week garnering hands-on experience learning how to deal with potential situations before they escalate into something more serious. The event took place at Fire Station 61 in Wasilla working through a 40-hour CIT "academy".

Brinke said much of the academy's focus on psychological issues, chemical and alcohol dependency and similar issues. The main overall focus of CIT is providing a community partnership of law enforcement, mental health and addiction professionals along with individuals and families that live with those addiction disorders.

He said, for an example, Mat-Su troopers were called out to address a man, who for unknown reasons, was standing in the road. Not only is that a traffic hazard, but it puts both motorists and the individual in danger. Not only does CIT improve officer and community safety, it also helps those with disorders and/or addiction problems access treatment rather than place them into the criminal justice system due to illness-related behaviors.

Covered topics included as how to lower frustration levels when dealing with people with poor mental health and how to manage their own mental health when affected by negative situations. In addition to "classroom" work, Brinke said another purpose of the training is to network the approximate 30 participants with available resources such as Valley clinicians and specialists that can provide help when needed.

Brinke said in addition to getting a troubled individual available help, changes in legal system, such as those enacted with last year's state passage of Senate Bill (SB) 61, have impacted the way police and other public safety officers deal with the general population. He said by no means is the training meant to keep people out of the legal system if they deserve to be there. But if a person can be kept from going to jail and entering the state's court system, it's good for all involved.

"We want to improve skill levels in addressing the issues, work on de-escalation," Brinke said. "(Participants) also learn the legalities of what we can and can't do."

The event was overseen by Wendi Shakelford, a retired Anchorage Police Department. She brings approximately 10 years of CIT experience to the classroom. Brinke said despite Alaska's extremely tight purse strings, three major sponsors — Alaska Mental Health Trust, Mat-Su Health Foundation, and Alaska State Troopers — helped fund the training.

Brinke said with Mat-Su EMT and police officers trained following today's graduation, he is planning to implement a Mat-Su AST Task Force. After the 40 hours of training, he wants the information to spread throughout Valley troopers.

"We have four shifts of troopers. I would like to get two troopers on each shift," Brinke said. "I would like to see one (trooper) on duty at all times as a source to the other troopers."