Associated Press
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The Albuquerque Police Department is stepping up the training of its officers.
Only about a quarter of the agency’s officers have been trained in crisis intervention practices during their careers. But now the department plans to provide that training to all its officers.
A recent U.S. Department of Justice report critical of the department as having excessive use of force and other shortcomings recommended changes to its crisis intervention training.
The first new crisis-intervention class of 35 officers starts Monday, and the department’s goal is to have 100 percent certification within 18 months.
The training includes both classroom time as well as role-playing exercises involving multiple scenarios such as dealing with a potential suicidal jumper.
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