Deseret News | Reader comments: Not all Utah officers get mental-crisis training

Reader comments
Police training for mental illness

watcher | 7:51 p.m. June 11, 2009

I've said it before I'll say it again police need to have more education!!! and 40 hours is not enough. Higher education would also mean their ages wouldn't be so young. meaning a more level-head police officer(maybe) the fact is higher education means a person can handle problems in a less violent manner.

susan kounalis | 8:43 p.m. June 11, 2009

i most definately agree with 'watcher'. all law enforcement agencies should have more training on how to deal with the mentally ill. and if mr. cardall did not visibly have a weapon, then why was he tasered? that should be the number 1 question that his family should ask. it should be mandatory for law enforcement to take these training. and if they don't then there should be consequences.

Anonymous | 4:32 a.m. June 12, 2009

Why are all the comments negative towards what the police did? I am not in any way justifying what has happened, but how can we crucify these officers when we do not know what happened. No one here has all the facts. Even in the article it states we do not know what happened. Even the "witness" stated she saw only 1 minute of the situation. What else happened? We do not know!!
We do not know what the extent of the training of the officers were. Every comment here is just speculation. Lets give the police officers involved in this horible situation respect and leave them alone. When ALL the facts are available we can all make an educated decision.

Comments continue below

Annie | 7:27 a.m. June 12, 2009

Until all the deaths by taser have been investigated, taser use should be put on hold.
Sincere sympathy to the family of this victim. he needed help, not tasering.

Crisis Response Team | 11:20 a.m. June 12, 2009

Ron Bruno's week long training is absolutely fascinating. It is also the type of training an officer can put to immediate use. It changes your whole way of looking at the mentally ill and helps officers identify when that is the issue or when it is a criminal matter. Most of law enforcement will tell you they entered the field to "help people". With this training, they really can.

Police Chiefs and Sheriff's all over the state need to ensure that all of their sworn personnel receive this critical training. It is inexpensive, it is professionally organized, it is kept current, it is absolutely vital information when serving the public.

Ron Bruno is very dedicated to this cause and an outstanding instructor and source of information.

One More Thing | 11:24 a.m. June 12, 2009

The Crisis Response Team is certified and it requires yearly renewal. Officers/deputies that have this training are identified as such when they are on patrol. This makes it easier for dispatchers and supervisors to access their skills.

Suzanne | 12:48 p.m. June 12, 2009

The most valuable information about the use of tasers on the mentally ill came from a blog post I read on The Spectrum online and on a blog by a mentally ill person (Tormented Soul). She helped me understand it better than anyone.

Ruth Pace | 9:35 p.m. July 2, 2009

We all know in this day and age, the first responders to a mental health crisis are apt to be law enforcement officers. To overlook the CIT training can lead to tragedy for all. I am appauled to think this could happen to my family member or anyone else who is mentally ill that exhibits bizzare behavior.

Anonymous | 10:18 p.m. July 2, 2009

Not enough mental health training to around? That's nuts.

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Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

Roy officer Armando Perez, left, talks with detective Ron Bruno, who is playing a mentally ill patient with a knife, in a 2006 training exercise in Farr West. The issue of more police training has been raised after the death of Brian Cardall.