Pandemic delays hiring of staff for Columbia mental health crisis unit
ABC 17 News
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Nearly a year after Columbia city manager John Glascock announced a new unit to handle emergency calls involving mental health crises, the unit remains unstaffed.
Glascock added seven positions in the fiscal year 2021 budget revealed in July to create a public safety mental health collaboration with the Police Department. Health leaders say they hope to create a fourth kind of first responder unit in the county, which would dispatch to emergency calls involving someone having a mental health problem. Supporters of the unit hope it will stop dangerous conflicts between the person and law enforcement and help the person get mental health resources.
A CPD Sergeant said officers have to go through extensive training on how to use force and when it s appropriate.
COLUMBIA - The Columbia Police Department assured they have had extensive training amid national news of an officer in Minnesota allegedly shooting a 20-year-old man with a gun, when intending to fire a taser.
CPD could not comment on the situation in Minnesota, but they told KOMU 8 what they do to prevent similar things from happening in Columbia.
Officers have to go through extensive training at the academy on how to use guns and other weapons.Â
Internal Affairs Supervisor Sergeant Scott Alpers said all officers in Columbia go through extensive training at the academy.
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