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SALT LAKE CITY — After a seven-hour standoff that ended with a man taking his life Thursday, Lindon police speak out about their efforts in crisis management.
Despite the saddening events, police departments today are better equipped to address crises involving individuals with mental health issues.
Police officers in Utah, and across the country, receive Crisis Intervention Team, or CIT training. When a crisis develops, as wittnessed in Lindon yesterday, the police call in the resources they need.
Lindon Police Chief Cody Cullimore said in his department they regularly review training that teaches their officers to approach calmly when a person may be emotionally fragile. Their aim is to "not engage in behavior that's going to aggravate those situations until we can get someone there that can appropriately help these individuals out."
Cullimore said that his officers treat those threatening suicide differently than they did a decade ago.
"It's more of a multidisciplinary approach. We are not just the cops out there doing this anymore,” said Cullimore.
- Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-TALK
- Utah County Crisis Line: 801-226-4433
- Wasatch Mental Health Crisis Line: 801-373-7393
- National Crisis Line: 1-800-784-2433
- Trevor Project Hotline for LGBTQ teens: 1- 866-488-7386
Now, officers trained in negotiations, mental health professionals and victims' advocates are called to the scene.
Last night, three negotiators stayed on the phone trying to help the man before they decided to fire a tear gas canister into the car in an attempt to get the gun away from him.
"We need to understand how to appropriately respond to them, give them the help they need, and still keep everyone safe," Cullimore said.
