Fostering Trust: A Conversation on Police Training and Mental Health

Every day, police officers step up to fill an irreplaceable role in the community, responding to neighbors in crisis. However, access to important and lifesaving training for officers is often limited—increasing the risk of excessive use of force and undermining officer well-being. How can federal, state, and local leaders foster more effective and ethical policing and crisis response strategies?

Featured panelists included:

• Ernie Stevens, Deputy Division Director of Law Enforcement, The Council of State Governments
• Dr. Quintin Williams, Program Officer, Gun Violence Prevention and Justice Reform
  The Joyce Foundation
• Kate Trammell, Esq., Vice President, Advocacy, Prison Fellowship

Ernie & Joe: Crisis Cops follows two Texas officers who are changing the way law enforcement responds to mental health calls. Ernie and Joe have unique insight into that crisis response as part of the San Antonio Police Department’s Mental Health Unit. This film examines Ernie and Joe’s daily encounters with people grappling with mental and behavioral health challenges. The full-version of ERNIE & JOE CRISIS COPSis available on HBO for streaming. The film is also available free to all U.S. law enforcement and public safety personnel thru 2024. For more information, visit www.ernieandjoethefilm.com.

Prison Fellowship’s recently published, “Building Blocks of Trust”, complete with illustrations and data, this report looks at the history of police training, current training requirements, challenges of modern policing, and community-oriented solutions that promote public safety. To learn more, visit www.prisonfellowship.org/policetraining.

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