Photo via Peterborough Police Service
With the goal of de-escalating situations before things get out of hand, the Peterborough Police Service relies heavily on its Mobile Crisis Intervention Team.
Responding to calls involving people experiencing a mental health crisis, the team is actually two teams, each comprised of a city police officer and a Canadian Mental Health Association worker.
CMHA employee Andrew Swift is partnered with Constable Justin Cannon. He says the concept was first introduced in Toronto some 20 years ago.
Constable Cannon says MCIT has proven to be an invaluable resource time and time again.
CMHA worker Michelle Faught, who is partnered with Constable Scott Levitt, says team members learn from interactions and often debrief afterwards.
(Written by: Paul Rellinger)
