WESTMINSTER, Md. (AP) - Carroll County law enforcement and public-health officials are initiating a crisis intervention team to safely manage people with mental illness.
The event Friday in Westminster adds Carroll County to at least five other Maryland jurisdictions that have embraced the concept.
Team members include law-enforcement officers who have been trained to compassionately manage people who are suffering from a mental illness or experiencing a mental health crisis.
The training includes recognizing various disorders and adopting a patient approach to avoid escalating the situation. The goal is to connect troubled subjects to appropriate mental health services before their actions require police to use force.
Other jurisdictions with crisis intervention teams include Baltimore city and Anne Arundel, Harford, Montgomery and Baltimore counties.
