THE ILLINOIS STATE POLICE IS EXPANDING CRISIS INTERVENTION TRAINING FOR ALL OFFICERS.

LAW ENFORCEMENT IS OFTEN THE FIRST TO RESPOND TO SOMEONE IN A MENTAL HEALTH EMERGENCY, SO IT'S IMPORTANT THEY KNOW WHAT TO DO SAYS I-S-P MASTER SERGEANT JOEY WATSON.

WATSON SAYS THE 40-HOUR CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM TRAINING INCLUDES THE SIGNS OF MENTAL ILLNESS, RESOURCES AVAILABLE, ROLE-PLAYING EXERCISES, AND DE-ESCALATION TECHNIQUES.

SO FAR, 51 STATE POLICE OFFICERS HAVE COMPLETED THE TRAINING AND 13 HAVE TAKEN ADDITIONAL CLASSES SO THEY CAN TEACH THE COURSE.