CRISIS INTERVENTION AND THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER

OFFICER SCOTT A DAVIS MONTGOMERY COUNTY (MD) POLICE

MY BACKUP TEAM

Rebecca Toner- Family Crimes Div MCPD

Mary Brough- Montgomery County Crisis Center

Steve Miller- Montgomery County Crisis Center

SNAPSHOTS IN HISTORY: COLUMBINE HIGH SCHOOL

April 20th 1999Two students shot up the high

school.CIT issue?Warning signs?Bullying issue?Ready access to firearms.

Lewis and Clark HS (Washington) Sept.2003

16 yr old Sean Fitzpatrick.Pulled out a 9mm handgun

during science class.Demanded students and

teachers leave the room.Swat team shot Fitzpatrick when

confronted.He survived his wounds.

MECKLENBURG HS (HUNTERSVILLE, NC) April 19,2007

16 yr old Josh Cook.Made threatening gestures to

students at the high school (with a gun).

Ran out of the school prior to police arrival, police began to search the area.

Was confronted by police at a gas station, shot himself in the head.

MENTAL ILLNESS/DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED STUDENTS

Autism affects about 1 in 110 children (NAMI).

Depression affects about 8.5% of youth in schools. These youth had, within the last year experienced at least one depressive episode (SAMHSA).

ADHD affects about 2-3% of students in schools (1 per class) NIMH.

MORE FACTS

Schizophrenia affects 1.1% of people over the age of 18. Not many stats for under 18 (NAMI).

Bipolar disorder. 2.6% for persons over the age of 18 (NAMI). James Hudsiak, professor of Psychiatry at the University of Vermont says: “ The best prediction is that the classic manifestation of Pediatric Bipolar disorder is probably less than 1%. “.

BIPOLAR DISORDER

“ However, the more common presentation of rapid mood swings, aggression, inattention and unhappiness may occur as often as 4%”.

There are no good statistics of mental illness in schools however, we know it’s present.

COPS IN SCHOOLS; Stats from the National School Resource Officers convention 2009

75% of SRO’s reported taking a weapon away from a student on school property.

92% of SRO’s felt that their schools were soft targets for terrorists.

50% of officers reported their schools emergency plans were inadequate.

92% of officers reported that the crimes on their campuses are under-reported.

COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH ACT OF 1963

Released consumers back into the community.

Treatment is no longer public but is now private.

Treatment is community based with little or no supervision or caretakers to “case manage”.

INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES ACT OF 1975 AND AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT OF

1990

Equal access and least restrictive environments in schools for students with mental illness.

Schools have had to adjust their school operations.

Police have had to adjust their operations as well.

SRO’s are the first line of defense. Crisis Intervention plays a major role in

prevention/deterrence of school violence!

MONTGOMERY COUNTY POLICE IN SCHOOLS

Most are CIT certified (40 hour course).

Taser certified (8-10 hour course).

SRO’s get an additional 6-8 hours training on defensive tactics, de-escalation skills.

SCHOOL/POLICE ISSUES

Both have a unique sub-culture (conservative vs. liberal?).

Exchanging of information can be difficult. SRO’s with CIT training have an excellent

rapport with kids and can generally see emerging crisis issues. Most of the time before the kids parents see it in their own children.

Schools are becoming the de-facto “social work” zones.

CASE STUDY: MCP IN ACTION

School secretary receives a call from a “self acclaimed” crisis worker in California who chats with clients on social networking sites.

School secretary contacts SRO at around 1900 hours same day.

Secretary advises she received information from the reporting person that a student is fed up with being bullying.

Student advised he is going to take matters into his own hands and show everyone up!

Student provides a list of common household chemicals that he will make into a bomb(s).

SRO notifies the school principle as well as MCPS security staff.

Everyone collectively agrees that based on the above information there is no immediate threat to be addressed that night.

MCP IN ACTION

Decision is made to interdict the student first thing next day.

Student is located and escorted to SRO office.

Student is resistant to interview and hesitant to talk.

Student is advised Officer is concerned about his welfare and he’s not in trouble.

Student starts to come forward with info. States he has been “seeing things” such

as spiders on his arms, waterfalls in the office and he hears his father talking to him while in class.

Student is reluctant to disclose what he feels/hears and sees to his parents thinking no one will believe him.

Consent to search his locker is obtained and yields nothing.

Fire marshal is contacted and advised of the students list of house hold chemicals.

Fire marshal goes ape and holds the threat credible .

Unmarked cars are parked to observe the students house.

Officer takes the student to the Montgomery County Crisis Center and is triaged.

Student is evaluated and diagnosed with Schizophrenia

Parents are contacted and respond to the Crisis Center and are briefed.

Parents give consent for Fire Marshall to conduct search of their house. Nothing found.

Student and parents are furnished a treatment program and referred to private providers.

POST INTERVIEW: LESSONS LEARNED

Student had the potential to create a mass casualty incident.

School/Police relationship was excellent.

Outside agencies were brought in, “total team approach”.

For the rest of the school year the student checked in with the SRO (on his own).

No media involvement (good or bad?)

THINKING “OUTSIDE THE BOX”

Work with School Psychologist, try to get into the interview!

If a gesture or statement is made, Duty to act!

Often School Psychologist has to refer student.

Puts the “option” of treatment with the parents.

Total team approach; SRO is staff!

“OUTSIDE THE BOX”

Hippa issues?Threat assessment teams.Student peer teams ?In school crime watch program,

confidential e-mail tip system.PTA “buy in”.Communication is the key; Talk!

Talk! Talk!

END OF THE YEAR RESULTS

Watkins Mill High School had a 33% reduction in crime (MCPS stats) even though there was an increase in crime reporting and report writing.

Watkins Mill High School had the highest intake of mental heath services in the county school system.

Police can’t do it alone. TOTAL TEAM APPROACH!!

QUESTIONS?

Contact informationScott.a.davis@montgomerycountymd.gov

240-773-5057 office