My Meeting with the New York City Police Department
I recently had the opportunity to participate in an NYPD CIT (Crisis Intervention Teams) training at the police academy in College Point, Queens. It was a panel discussion. What was I expecting? Massed ranks of uniforms, of course. What did I experience? Plain clothed officers willing to listen to mental health recipients in an effort to become more effective in their jobs.
I’ll be honest. I was very apprehensive at first. I have firsthand experience of being confronted by the police while experiencing psychosis. I know all too well how the control and command model that police employ nationwide is entirely ineffective for someone who’s in a psychotic and delusional state.
But when I walked into the classroom, the officers were just finishing up a lesson on mindfulness. Yes, mindfulness – the same concept shared with mental health recipients in NAMI Peer-to-Peer courses. There was also talk of changing their “language” when talking about “consumers” and the importance of building empathy. And that’s not the half of it.
Alongside me on the panel were other mental health recipients, from all walks of life – including a director, lawyer, political organizer, and peer workers. I thought it was particularly poignant that the officers were able to see all of us in our various stages of recovery and wellness.
What I hope stays with these officers is the humanity of “consumers.” I hope they could see we’re not just a series of mental health labels, but accomplished, valuable citizens who managed to overcome in spite of our various lived experiences.
One officer even asked what helps and what doesn’t in terms of responding to a call with an EDP (emotionally disturbed person), and we all gave feedback. Mental health recipients in various stages of wellness were having a dialogue with police officers! Yessssss. It was amazing. Is it just me or can you see the beauty of this?
I mean, from my perspective in order for this moment in time to happen the NYPD – and our elected officials who help to govern it – had to come to the realization (voluntary or otherwise) that something in “the system” needed to change. Then, mental health recipients had to be courageous enough to step forward and tell their stories. It happened. And it happened in a safe and respectful manner.
I see hope in the direction the NYPD is trying to go. Perhaps we will see a day when the mentally ill are not so quick to be criminalized, but the first to be given a chance to succeed. Perhaps. I see CITs as a big step in that direction.
What do you think?
