New law requires law enforcement training on mental health, substance abuse
By News Staff
A new law is aimed at training law enforcement to deal with mental health and substance abuse emergencies.
The bill was signed into law by Governor Gina Raimondo on Tuesday. It will require training for law enforcement on these types of emergencies.
"There have been too many needless tragedies in the news because police officers did not have the proper training to assess and properly deal with situations involving individuals with mental illnesses," said Representative K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick).
Senator Stephen R. Archambault says between 7-10% of law enforcement calls involve a person with mental illness, which presents a big challenge to officers. The law will make sure they are properly trained on how to recognize and deal with mental health problems and ensure the safety of the officer in what could be a potentially volatile situation.
The Commission on Standards and Training will be responsible for providing training and instructions for officers.
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