Since February 1997, the Division of Safety Services has served as the DMHAS content and instructional resource for coordinating training for CT’s state and municipal recruit and certified officers and emergency first responders at the Meriden Police Academy.  The courses are designed to teach police and emergency first responders how to recognize symptoms of distress in people with behavioral healthcare disorders, how to determine appropriate responses and how to intervene in emergency and non-emergency situations to elicit cooperation. All courses meet the Police Officer Standards and Training Council standards and are conducted by instructors who have extensive behavioral healthcare training and experience and are POSTC Certified.

Courses are available in:

• Human Behavior
• Citizens with Special Needs
• Hearing Voices that are Distressing
• Responding to Citizens with Mental Illness  Note: Officers may register for this class at the POSTC website.