THIRTY-FIVE ALBUQUERQUE POLICE OFFICERS ARE NOW ENROLLED IN THE DEPARTMENT'S FIRST OF 10 CLASSES SCHEDULED FOR THIS YEAR TO BECOME PART OF THE CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM. APD SPOKESMAN SIMON DROBIK TELLS US 27-PERCENT OF THEIR OFFICERS ARE CURRENTLY C-I-T CERTIFIED. THE TRAINING TEACHERS THEM TO BETTER RESPOND TO SITUATION INVOLVING PEOPLE IN CRISIS, LIKE HOMELESS CAMPER JAMES BOYD WHO WAS SHOT TO DEATH IN THE FOOTHILLS OF ALBUQUERQUE BY POLICE LAST MONTH.
THE INTERNATIONAL CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM'S WEB SITE SHOWS SAFE RESTRAINT TACTICS AND ACTIVE LISTENING SKILLS ARE AMONG THE TRAINING OFFICERS RECEIVE.
APD ADDED THE CLASSES AFTER THE U-S JUSTICE DEPARTMENT FOUND EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE BY ITS OFFICERS. APD HOPES ALL ITS OFFICERS WILL BE CERTIFIED IN THE NEXT 18 MONTHS.
