The first few seconds of any police call are potentially the most dangerous, but thanks to a groundbreaking effort between Chatham-Kent police and mental health officials, officers have much needed backup.
Now marking its 10th year, the Mobile Crisis Team has helped defuse thousands of calls by assisting police in dealing with people in traumatic situations.
For the past five years, the team has consisted of Chatham-Kent Police Service Constable Brent Milne and psychiatric nurses Dan Saunders and Christine Cogghe.
When police encounter situations where someone’s mental state is an issue, members of the crisis team are called to the scene.
“Chief (Chatham-Kent Police Service Chief Gary) Conn has said that between 75 and 80 per cent of calls are identified with socio or economic issues,” Milne said. “Present day policing has an element of uncertainty that is greater than perhaps ever before.”
Once police determine that there isn’t imminent physical danger or criminality at a scene, crisis team members can assist in assessments and help determine the best course of action.
Last year, the team was involved in 700 incidents, conducted 364 follow up investigations and did 98 assessments.
“Sometimes all that’s needed for someone is a follow up; talking to the individuals, seeing how they’re doing and letting them know of services that might help out in their particular situation,” Cogghe said. “We’re there to help them get help.”
Milne said when crisis team members show up at a scene, it often eases tension. “There is often a de-escalation of the scene right there when they see Dan or Christine,” he said. “They understand and police can assume a role of support.”
“We may have had previous dealings with an individual and we can see the current incident has a mental health component to it. It’s important to them that they know we’re not the police and their assessments are kept confidential.”
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Milne said all officers receive some mental health situational training at the Ontario Police College but ongoing reinforcement is key.
“We do provide training to CKPS members in a formal sense but there is a real benefit to officers to see how the crisis team works in action,” he said. “On-the-scene training just by observation is invaluable.”
In his annual report, Conn noted police are in the process of establishing a vulnerable persons’ registry to assist families and individuals who may be at risk of falling into a crisis.
Saunders said the crisis team has another benefit in clearing officers to return to duty sooner.
“We don’t have as many front line officers at the hospital for assessments since they’ve already been done,” he said.
Milne said former deputy chief Claire Wiersma and Sgt. Jim Biskey provided strong support for the crisis team as well as the HELP team which proceeded it.
Saunders said for several years, Becky Elgie of the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance was the only nurse on the team.
Cogghe said the local mental health care system has evolved a great deal over the years from when it operated in “silos.”
She said the team uses unmarked cars to transport individuals.
“If you’re in distress, you don’t need to be driven away in a police car,” she said.
She said there is less of a stigma to mental health than in years past “but we’re not there yet” in terms of acceptance.
The local team has been recognized a number of times for its best practices and has even helped establish similar programs in other communities such as North Bay.
“Programs are much more widespread than they used to be,” Milne said.
Working in the mental health field has its own set of pressures but when they have issues, the team members talk to each other.
“We have a friendship as well as our professional relationship,” said Milne, who’s being transferred out after five years with the team.
“There comes a time when everyone needs a break,” he said. “I’ve been treated like one of their own by the mental health professionals and I know when Dan or Christine are at the station, they’re one of us.”
