Police Say Officers Receiving More Training on Mental Health Calls

Amid growing public discussion on mental health and public safety, police say steps are being taken to ensure officers are better prepared to respond to incidents involving persons experiencing mental health crises.  Speaking on the matter, Stacy Smith, Assistant Superintendent of Police, acknowledged that encounters with mentally ill persons can be complex, but emphasized that the department continues to build its capacity in this area. ASP Smith explained that the police department has been working closely with the Ministry of Health to strengthen officers’ ability to identify and appropriately manage mental health situations.  According to Smith, collaboration with health professionals is aimed at ensuring officers are equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to de-escalate situations and respond in a manner that prioritizes safety, care, and dignity for individuals in crisis.

Stacy Smith, Assistant Superintendent of Police: “The Belize Police Department has recognized the need to establish a formal procedure when it comes to dealing with persons who are undergoing mental health crisis. There are procedures that are in our policies and procedural manual and I know of recent we have been collaborating with Nurse Quintanilla in Belmopan in relation to coming up, and I believe that has been completed, with a complete protocol that guides the engagement of police officers from the inception of the report through to assisting these medical professionals when they are providing help to these persons when they are at those institutions. So we have recognized the nuance area and we continue to train our police officers so that they are equipped to address these incidents with professionalism and with a view to ensuring the safety of all parties involved. Whenever it is an issue that creates a disturbance of the peace police officers are called upon and we are equipping ourselves to be able to adequately address those. Certainly there are wider considerations that I am sure the state is taking into account and it is hopeful that a long-term solution is brought about.”

ASP Smith noted that while police officers are often the first responders in mental health emergencies, the goal is to ensure their actions are guided by training and coordinated support from the health sector, rather than enforcement alone.