Sunday, October 28, 2012

December Event on Policing and Mental Illness

Islanders for Collaborative Policing will sponsor a roundtable conversation on Tuesday December 11, about policing and mental illness. The public is welcome to attend. 

The purpose of the event is to consider (1) the prevalence of mental illness in our community and (2) best practices about interacting with the mentally ill that are being used by law enforcement agencies. Four representatives from law enforcement will be on hand to talk about policing strategies (including two Lieutenants from the BIPD) along with the statewide coordinator for crisis intervention training at the State Criminal Justice Training Commission. The Executive Director of Kitsap County Mental Health Services will be on our panel, along with the Director of Health for the County Health District, National Alliance for Mental Illness representatives, and the head of Educational Support Services for the Bainbridge School District. This will be a rather remarkable opportunity, we think, to form some new partnerships and engage in creative thinking. 

The roundtable will be held at Bethany Lutheran Church on Bainbridge Island (7968 Finch Road NE). The program starts at 6pm and ends at 7:30--and, from 7:30 to 8pm, you'll have the opportunity to meet our panelists and engage in informal conversation.