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CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia State Police will conduct its first Keystone Model of Crisis Management training for new cadets on September 9, with support from WVU Medicine and the West Virginia Crisis Intervention Team. According to the American Psychological Association, at least 20% of police encounters are mental health related.
The Keystone Model combines classroom instruction with realistic, scenario-based exercises to prepare law enforcement officers to identify and safely respond to behavioral health emergencies. Cadets will practice responding to situations involving conditions such as autism, psychosis, bipolar disorder, depression and suicidal thoughts. Medical and behavioral health professionals will provide feedback following each exercise.
The model was developed through a partnership between the Pennsylvania State Police and Penn State Health. Over a three-year period Lieutenant Alan Zulick (Use of Force unit, Pennsylvania State Police), Theresa Brosche (Penn State Health, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Clinical Simulations Center) and Dr. Nathan E. Kruis (Department of Criminal Justice, Penn State Altoona) collaborated to create a training method which is unique for law enforcement and the mental health professionals. It emphasizes communication, sound decision-making and de-escalation while protecting the safety of officers and people experiencing a crisis.
Lt. Kenneth Murray, director of the West Virginia State Police Angel Initiative and Behavioral Health Services, researched the program and led the effort to bring the training to West Virginia. The Angel Initiative is a confidential, voluntary program that lets anyone struggling with substance use disorder walk into any State Police detachment and ask for help entering a treatment center with no arrests or prosecution.
“This training will give cadets an opportunity to practice responding to complex behavioral health situations before they encounter them in the field,” Murray said. “The goal is to help troopers recognize what they are seeing, communicate effectively and resolve these situations as safely as possible.”
Murray has been recognized as a WVCIT Trainer of the Year for his contributions to crisis-response training. He is also known for his statewide work to increase autism awareness among law enforcement officers.
WVU Medicine will bring its medical and simulation expertise to the training. Dr. Lisa Sinz, associate medical director of WV STEPS, has extensive experience using realistic simulation to help professionals strengthen their skills and decision-making in high-pressure situations.
“Simulation allows participants to apply what they have learned in a realistic but controlled setting,” Sinz said. “Cadets can practice their communication and response skills, receive immediate feedback and build confidence that will carry into their work.”
WVCIT trainers will attend the program and assist the West Virginia State Police and WVU Medicine throughout the training.
“This partnership represents exactly what WVCIT works to encourage across West Virginia,” said Hollis Lewis, WVCIT project director for First Choice Services. “Law enforcement and behavioral health professionals are working together to give new troopers practical skills that can make encounters safer for everyone involved.”
