Procedure 611-Mentally IIl Persons

Question 1

.02A. Police officers must understand persons with mental illness have an illness requiring professional assistance and the officers’ actions;

Answer 1

may affect the immediate behavior of a person with mental illness.

Question 2

.02B. Officers should attempt to carefully evaluate individuals involved in a mental health crisis and determine the;

Answer 2

best course of action to take in order to resolve the situation.

Question 3

.02C. The Department has implemented a program which provides officers the opportunity to receive specialized training in handling;

Answer 3

mental health crises.

Question 4

.02C. Officers who complete this training become part of the;

Answer 4

Crisis Intervention Team (CIT Officers).

Question 5

.04A. Police officers routinely encounter situations involving persons exhibiting;

Answer 5

unusual behavioral characteristics, ranging from passive to violent.

Question 6

.04A. Police officers must recognize symptoms which may indicate;

Answer 6

the existence of mental illness.

Question 7

.04B.

1. Drastic mood swings or behavioral changes;
2. Loss of memory;
3. Thoughts of being plotted against, or delusions of grandeur;

Answer 7

symptoms commonly associated with persons with mental illness

Question 8

.04B.

4. Speaks to himself, hears voices, sees visions, or smells strange odors;
5. Thinks people are watching or talking to him;
6. Exhibits an extreme degree of panic or fright

Answer 8

symptoms commonly associated with persons with mental illness

Question 9

.04B.

7. Behaves dangerous to himself or others
8. Poor personal hygiene or appearance;
9. Demonstrates unusual thought process or verbal expressions or is catatonic.

Answer 9

symptoms commonly associated with persons with mental illness

Question 10

.04C. Upon recognition of a mental health crisis situation the officer’s responsibilities include: Protecting the general public from;

Answer 10

the actions of the persons with mental illness;

Question 11

.04C. Upon recognition of a mental health crisis situation the officer’s responsibilities include: Maintaining a high degree of caution in dealing with;

Answer 11

the potentially unpredictable nature of persons with mental illness;

Question 12

.04C. Upon recognition of a mental health crisis situation the officer’s responsibilities include: Protecting the persons with mental illness from;

Answer 12

his/her own actions;

Question 13

.04C. Upon recognition of a mental health crisis situation the officer’s responsibilities include: Providing the most effective remedy available at the time to;

Answer 13

resolve the crisis situation.

Question 14

.05B. CIT Officers are assigned to regular patrol duties and when available;

Answer 14

respond to situations involving persons who are experiencing a mental health crisis.

Question 15

.05C. CIT Officers only respond to mental health crisis situations within their assigned service area unless;

Answer 15

specifically requested into another area by a supervisory officer.

Question 16

.05D. The CIT Officer at the scene of a call involving a mental health crisis situation has the responsibility for handling the situation unless;

Answer 16

otherwise directed by a supervisor.

Question 17

.05F. CIT Officers do not handle critical incidents. Critical incidents require a;

Answer 17

response of the Special Operations Unit.

Question 18

.05G. Types of mental health crisis situations CIT Officers may respond to.

Answer 18

1. Disturbances involving mental illness;
2. Suicide threats, suicide attempts;
3. When mental person threatens to harm others;

Question 19

.05G. CIT Officers may respond to several types of mental health crisis situations, which;

Answer 19

have not escalated to a critical incident.

Question 20

.05G. Types of mental health crisis situations CIT Officers may respond to.

Answer 20

4. Intentional overdose or suicide has occurred;
5. Health of mentally ill at risk of serious deterioration;
6. An incident involving persons with mental illness which other patrol officers have been unable to resolve.

Question 21

.06A. Dispatchers attempt to determine if a service call is a mental health crisis; and

Answer 21

identify mental health crisis calls by using appropriate code;

Question 22

.06A. Dispatchers assign and dispatch a CIT Officer when available, along with;

Answer 22

a cover officer, to mental health crisis situations;

Question 23

.06B. If the handling officer assigned to a call is not a CIT Officer, he;

Answer 23

may request a CIT Officer respond to assist with the call;

Question 24

.06B. When officers handling a call become aware it involves a mental health crisis;

Answer 24

the handling officer should request a CIT Officer from the dispatcher.

Question 25

.06B. If a CIT Officer is available within the assigned service area, the;

Answer 25

dispatcher should dispatch the CIT Officer to the scene;

Question 26

.06B. When confronted with situations which pose a potential for serious bodily injury to any person, including situations which have a potential to escalate to a critical incident, officers will;

Answer 26

Immediately notify a supervisor.

Question 27

.07D. A frisk of the individual and a search of the immediate surrounding area are conducted, to ensure the absence of any potential weapons, as frisking and handcuffing the individual;

Answer 27

may be necessary to satisfy safety requirements.

Question 28

.07E. The person with mental illness should be guided to a safe and quiet area, if possible, away from other persons or things that may;

Answer 28

further incite the situation.

Question 29

.07F. Officers shall not force individuals to take;

Answer 29

any medications.

Question 30

.07F. If the individual is taken into custody, any medication being taken by the individual should be transported;

Answer 30

with the individual and released to the appropriate medical or detention personnel, which shall be documented in the report.

Question 31

.07G. If possible, officers should interview relatives, friends, neighbors, or others;

Answer 31

associated with the situation;

Question 32

.07G. Officers attempting to resolve a mental health crisis should rely on:

Answer 32

1. Close and constant visual observation. 2. Interviews of the person in crisis. 3. Information provided by health professionals regarding condition of the person

Question 33

.08A. In evaluating the person with mental illness and the crisis situation, all officers may contact the Mental Health Detail during their;

Answer 33

working hours, Monday through Friday through the dispatcher.

Question 34

.08A. Officers may contact the Mobile Crisis Outreach Team, in evaluating the;

Answer 34

person with mental illness and the crisis situation

Question 35

.08A., All officers may complete a Warrantless Application for Emergency Detention in dealing with a;

Answer 35

person with mental illness and the crisis situation

Question 36

.08A. Officers shall call the Crisis Care Center prior to transport to verify they are not;

Answer 36

on diversion and can accept the person when it is an adult [18 and older].

Question 37

.08A. If the Crisis Care Center cannot accept the person, the officer shall;

Answer 37

transport the adult to the nearest appropriate inpatient mental health facility or closest Emergency Room.

Question 38

.08A. Officers shall phone the Child Crisis Unit between the hours of 0830–2000, Mon-Fri. before transporting to 711 E. Josephine.

Answer 38

Youth, 17 and under.

Question 39

.08A. After hours, phone Clarity Child Guidance Center before transporting to 8535 Tom Slick Dr.

Answer 39

youth, 17 and under.

Question 40

.08A. For mentally ill youth, 17 and under, when Clarity and Child Crisis are not available, officers phone;

Answer 40

Nix Behavioral Health Services at before transporting to 4330 Vance Jackson.

Question 41

.08A. If the Nix Behavioral Health Services are not available for youth, 17 and younger, officers call;

Answer 41

Laurel Ridge, before transporting to, 17720 Corporate Woods.

Question 42

.08A. If there is no availability at any of the Mental Health Facilities, the officer shall transport the child , 17 and under, to the;

Answer 42

nearest hospital, [Consider using a Children’s Hospital if appropriate].

Question 43

.08A. If the person with mental illness has committed a nonviolent misdemeanor criminal offense, “SP” the person, and conduct a;

Answer 43

Warrantless Application for Emergency Detention in lieu of arrest with a supervisor’s approval

Question 44

.08A. If after an arrest, an officer is ordered by a Magistrate to conduct a Magistrate’s Order for Emergency Apprehension and Detention in lieu of the arrest, the officer;

Answer 44

will “SP” the person with mental illness on the correct report.

Question 45

.08A. Under this procedure, a person’s intent to cause property damage only, is not considered a;

Answer 45

violent criminal offense if the person who committed the offense has a mental illness.

Question 46

.08A. In family violence cases resulting in no injury or minor injury and where no further violence by the person with mental illness is anticipated;

Answer 46

a supervisor should be contacted for final disposition.

Question 47

.08B. Application for Emergency Apprehension by Peace Officer without warrant. Detentions of this nature are for;

Answer 47

protective purposes and are not criminal.

Question 48

.08B. A substantial risk of serious harm to the person or others may be demonstrated by behavior; or evidence of;

Answer 48

severe emotional distress and deterioration in the person’s mental condition to the extent the person cannot remain at liberty.

Question 49

.08B. The peace officer may form the belief the person meets the criteria for apprehension based on specific recent behavior, overt acts, attempts, or threats by the person:

Answer 49

a. Observed by the officer when the apprehended person is found; or b. Reliably reported to the officer by a credible person.

Question 50

.08C. If a person is voluntarily at a Hospital, clinic, nursing home, physician’s office or minor emergency clinic, the officer should consider;

Answer 50

completing a Warrantless Application for Emergency Detention if requested by the facility.

Question 51

.08C. When completing the application for a E D at a hospital or psychiatric hospital, officers will list the;

Answer 51

physician’s name, or medical personnel, as the observer and credible person on the Application

Question 52

.08C. For Emergency Detention, in cases where persons with mental illness are sedated and no substantial risk of harm is observed by the officer;

Answer 52

The officer should quote the physician or medical personnel.

Question 53

.08C. retain the original for routing to the Records Office and leave a;

Answer 53

duplicate copy with an original signature of SAPD Form #127-ED and a copy of the offense report, with the facility staff.

Question 54

.08C. If an officer is unsure of the condition, he will call or ask the;

Answer 54

Information Channel to call the Crisis Care Center and consult with the staff for guidance.

Question 55

.08D. When taking a person with mental illness into custody for ED, officers:

Answer 55

a. May handcuff persons before transporting; b. Shall search the person before transporting; c. Retain custody until accepted by facility.

Question 56

.08D. When taking a person with mental illness into custody for ED, and officers expect to work past the end of their shift, they shall;

Answer 56

contact a supervisor, request relief no later than [30] minutes before the end of the officers assigned duty hours.

Question 57

.08E. Booking Process: The officer, for safety reasons, immediately notifies the following of suspected mental illness and/or suicidal tendencies involved with the prisoner:

Answer 57

* Central Magistration personnel, | * Including the nurse and mental health screener.

Question 58

.08E. Booking Process: The officer also makes the following notation on the magistrate’s intake slip and the booking slip;

Answer 58

“Evidences Symptoms of Mental Illness.”

Question 59

.08E. Medication being taken by prisoners will be transported by the arresting officer and left with;

Answer 59

Detention Center personnel.

Question 60

Family members or persons concerned over the mental or emotional health of an individual can be referred to;

Answer 60

the Mental Health Office at the Bexar County Courthouse or may call the Crisis Line.

Question 61

.08G. Officers confronted with situations that pose a continuing threat of serious bodily injury to any person will request;

Answer 61

additional officers and a supervisor through the dispatcher.

Question 62

.08G. Officers call person being threatened by telephone, and will advise them of the threats and may leave a;

Answer 62

voice message advising the person of the threat and the SAPD case number.

Question 63

.08G. If no telephone number is known for the person being threatened, officers will;

Answer 63

contact the person at their residence, if located within service area.

Question 64

.08G. If the residence is located in another service area, the officer notifies the appropriate dispatcher to have an officer dispatched to;

Answer 64

make the notification or he may follow-up with the supervisor’s permission.

Question 65

.08G. If no one is found at the residence, officers will leave a;

Answer 65

written notice of the threat and the SAPD case number.

Question 66

.08G. If no telephone number or residence is known for the person who is being threatened, officers will notify and route a copy of the report to the;

Answer 66

Homicide Unit and the Crisis Response Team (CRT) at their substation prior to checking back into service.

Question 67

.08G. Will immediately follow-up on the threats by making a reasonable effort to notify the person who is the subject of the threats.

Answer 67

Crisis Response Team personnel

Question 68

.08G. Officers will route a copy of all reports involving threats made by persons with mental illness to the;

Answer 68

* Homicide Unit, * Crisis Negotiators Detail, * Crisis Intervention Team, * Crisis Response Team.

Question 69

.08G. When threats are made against public officials or other high profile individuals, officers will also route a copy of their report to the;

Answer 69

San Antonio Regional Intelligence Center.

Question 70

10.Mental Health Detail responsibilities:

Answer 70

A. Coordinate training of C.I.T officers; B. Ensure a Department Psychologist is included. C. Maintain statistical data and complete an annual report on all reported mental health crisis calls; D. Maintain entry of CIT Officers into the computer PAPX System for identification of CIT Officers on the work sheet.

Question 71

.10A. regarding interactions with persons suspected of suffering from mental illness, Police Cadets in the Training Academy, shall receive a;

Answer 71

minimum of 40 hours of Crisis Intervention Team Training

Question 72

.10B. Officers shall receive refresher training regarding interactions with persons suspected of suffering from mental illness;

Answer 72

at least every three years.

Question 73

.10D. Civilian employees who have contact with the public shall receive refresher training regarding interactions with persons suspected of suffering from mental illness;

Answer 73

at least every three years.