What Would You Do?
A final vote is taken on another program that combines aspects of both the CIT and co-responder programs. Known as the Crisis Intervention Response Team (CIRT) it may be a good compromise for your department. The results of the final vote are 65 percent in favor of implementing CIRT and 35 percent against it implementation. This outcome was surprising to you. You believed that the department as a whole would recognize the positive qualities of both models and thus a stronger majority would vote in favor of the new proposal.
However, you are fairly certain that the sticking point is the presence of a mental health professional in the model. The makeup of your department includes an older population of officers, many of whom are resistant to change and some have already spoken to you privately expressing their concern about the addition of a civilian (mental health professional) on any call for service. You know that if you implement any program that includes a co-responder there will be pushback from this group of officers. However, you expect to see results fairly quickly and plan to closely monitor any new calls for service crises involving an individual with a mental illness. You expect that, as officers experience positive outcomes due to the presence of a mental health professional, word will spread rapidly and those who are resistant will change their minds. In considering what to tell your county leadership group about the vote you are concerned that sharing too much information regarding the issue will make it appear that you do not have good control over your officers. You think that it may be a good idea not to focus on the results of the vote but rather on the research and the CIRT program that you believe has solid, positive outcomes and the highest likelihood for success within the different agencies.
-As the chief of police, where is your strongest focus at the county leadership group: the vote or the research?

Question

What Would You Do?
A final vote is taken on another program that combines aspects of both the CIT and co-responder programs. Known as the Crisis Intervention Response Team (CIRT) it may be a good compromise for your department. The results of the final vote are 65 percent in favor of implementing CIRT and 35 percent against it implementation. This outcome was surprising to you. You believed that the department as a whole would recognize the positive qualities of both models and thus a stronger majority would vote in favor of the new proposal. 
However, you are fairly certain that the sticking point is the presence of a mental health professional in the model. The makeup of your department includes an older population of officers, many of whom are resistant to change and some have already spoken to you privately expressing their concern about the addition of a civilian (mental health professional) on any call for service. You know that if you implement any program that includes a co-responder there will be pushback from this group of officers. However, you expect to see results fairly quickly and plan to closely monitor any new calls for service crises involving an individual with a mental illness. You expect that, as officers experience positive outcomes due to the presence of a mental health professional, word will spread rapidly and those who are resistant will change their minds. In considering what to tell your county leadership group about the vote you are concerned that sharing too much information regarding the issue will make it appear that you do not have good control over your officers. You think that it may be a good idea not to focus on the results of the vote but rather on the research and the CIRT program that you believe has solid, positive outcomes and the highest likelihood for success within the different agencies.
-As the chief of police, where is your strongest focus at the county leadership group: the vote or the research?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Answer of What Would You Do?
A final vote is taken on another program that combines aspects of both the CIT and co-responder programs. Known as the Crisis Intervention Response Team (CIRT) it may be a good compromise for your department. The results of the final vote are 65 percent in favor of implementing CIRT and 35 percent against it implementation. This outcome was surprising to you. You believed that the department as a whole would recognize the positive qualities of both models and thus a stronger majority would vote in favor of the new proposal. 
However, you are fairly certain that the sticking point is the presence of a mental health professional in the model. The makeup of your department includes an older population of officers, many of whom are resistant to change and some have already spoken to you privately expressing their concern about the addition of a civilian (mental health professional) on any call for service. You know that if you implement any program that includes a co-responder there will be pushback from this group of officers. However, you expect to see results fairly quickly and plan to closely monitor any new calls for service crises involving an individual with a mental illness. You expect that, as officers experience positive outcomes due to the presence of a mental health professional, word will spread rapidly and those who are resistant will change their minds. In considering what to tell your county leadership group about the vote you are concerned that sharing too much information regarding the issue will make it appear that you do not have good control over your officers. You think that it may be a good idea not to focus on the results of the vote but rather on the research and the CIRT program that you believe has solid, positive outcomes and the highest likelihood for success within the different agencies.
-As the chief of police, where is your strongest focus at the county leadership group: the vote or the research?