Report Recommendation 5.6

The Saint Paul Police Department has not waited for a state mandate to provide Crisis Intervention Training. The department recognizes that those suffering from a mental health crisis are more likely to be involved in incidents where officers need to use force to keep the situation from spiraling out of control or becoming dangerous. The department recognizes that we have the responsibility to prepare ourselves to de-escalate and stabilize these events to protect those in crisis – even when the law allows a more forceful response. That is why the SPPD has committed to providing an accredited 40-hour Crisis Intervention Training course to all of its front-line employees so they can recognize and stabilize mental health crises with the application of physical force only as a last resort. 

In 2019, Chief Axtell created the Community Engagement Division and the Community Outreach and Stabilization Team (COAST).  The COAST Unit has a Mental Heath Resource Team, Police Homeless Outreach Program (PHOP) and Recovery Access Program (RAP) committed to helping those in crisis.  The Mental Health Resource Team consists of specially trained officers and embedded social workers who respond to persons in crisis together providing wholistic services resulting in better outcomes for our community.   

Saint Paul has also mandated CIT training for all new officers.

Not applicable for local law enforcement.