This precedent led the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards to adopt training as a mandatory requirement for all police academy recruits in Michigan 

                                               

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. (July 1, 2024) — On Thursday June 27, the Farmington Hills Police Department received a resolution from the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) recognizing the Department as the first law enforcement agency in the state to provide mental health training to all of its officers, cadets and dispatchers. Implementation of this proactive training for law enforcement personnel is in alignment with national trends towards more empathetic and effective policing.  

 

“Our community deserves the best trained and equipped police officers responding to emergencies, and this behavioral health emergency partnership training provides that level of training for all of our cadets, dispatchers and officers,” said Farmington Hills Police Chief Jeff King. “It has further prepared our agency to respond to these dangerous and fragile emergency situations, with the competencies to do so safely, while providing individuals and their loved ones experiencing a mental health emergency with the best support and service at the first responder level. This is further representation of the exceptional standard of training and leadership role the Farmington Hills Police Department takes within the law enforcement profession.”

In 2023, the Farmington Hills Police Department responded to 412 recorded mental health incidents, a 3% increase over 2022. This year, from January through May, Farmington Hills Police officers have already responded to 155 recorded mental health incidents. These numbers include calls for threats of suicide and attempted suicide, as well as assisting in petitions and court ordered petitions for mental health treatment. However, these numbers do not account for citizen contacts that were resolved by patrol without further involvement from community mental health organizations, hospitals or courts.  Such incidents include, but are not limited to, welfare checks, citizen assists, missing persons reports, walkaways from group homes and juvenile runaways.

This training initiative will not only benefit the Farmington Hill community, but also sets a precedent that will benefit communities across the state. MCOLES has adopted the training initiated in Farmington Hills as a mandatory requirement for all recruits of Michigan police academies, ensuring that all future police officers have these vital skills and knowledge. 

 

"Chief Jeff King and the Farmington Hills Police Department have demonstrated dedication and performance above and beyond the standard by becoming the first law enforcement agency in the state to have 100 percent of their sworn officers, dispatchers and cadets educated in the Commission's 20-hour behavioral health Emergency Partnership training,” MCOLES chair Kim Koster stated in the resolution. “The Department has developed strong relationships with behavioral health professionals and agencies by taking steps to invest in the preparation of all personnel.”

 

Beginning in Jan. 2023, all 131 officers and dispatchers took part in an immersive two-day program, taught by the Cardinal Group II, a company specializing in professional development for police service professionals. The program taught participants how to recognize when someone is experiencing a mental health crisis, as well as teaching de-escalation techniques and effective communication strategies. Following the successful completion of the initial mental health training, the Department is currently training instructors in a voluntary second phase. This phase aims to equip a selected group of Department members with the skills and tools needed to deliver this mental health training to new recruits and dispatchers.

 

Equipping law enforcement with this mental health training also benefits the community. Community members can expect safer communities and stronger relationships with police, greater protection of their rights and well-being, and overall greater support for individuals in crisis. An additional benefit to the training is that it supports officers' mental health in better managing the stress and trauma they may experience as a law enforcement officer. 

 

For more information about the Farmington Hills Police Department, visit fhgov.com. 

 

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