THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 2023 Page 7 Police Chief discusses Crisis Intervention Training with Commission on Disabilities By Barbara Taormina P olice Chief David Callahan met with the Commission on Disabilities at their last meeting to explain crisis intervention training and its benefi ts for the Police Department and value for the entire community. Callahan explained that Revere police have been involved for the past six years in CIT (or crisis intervention training), which focuses on de-escalation techniques for calls generated by mental health issues. Callahan said the fi ve-day training teaches police how to identify and understand how to deal with people who have mental health problems. Police learn to take a group approach and work with mental health specialists, substance abuse counselors and other professionals to resolve problems. “The idea is to keep people away from court involvement,” said Callahan. “About 60 percent of these calls don’t go to court like they would have a decade ago because we just didn’t know how to handle the problem. It’s a health care issue not a law enforcement issue.” “Injuries have decreased dramatically because of the training,” said Callahan, who added that individuals are safer, police are safer and everyone in the community is safer. According to Callahan, the training teaches police how to avoid triggers that could exacerbate conditions, such as autism and Alzheimer’s, and to understand how to reach people in crisis. CIT training is a part of the overall move toward police reform, said Callahan. “In Revere, we’ve been kind of forward thinking and we’ve trained ourselves better,” said Callahan. “We have a behavioral health unit to oversee some of these calls, and we have people who step in to do follow up and assist people,” he said. Commission Vice Chair Pauline Perno asked if the training is available for staff in other departments, such as the Fire and School Departments. Callahan agreed CIT training would be useful in those settings. However, the grant-funded training police receive is geared specifi cally to law enforcement. Other departments would need to pursue grants to off er the training. Perno also asked what members of the community should do if they see something they feel isn’t right. “You may see something in your neighborhood that doesn’t seem right. Someone might be in distress or trouble – you should call the police,” said Callahan, adding that police would rather get 10 calls that are not necessary rather than miss one where they could have made a diff erence. “We’re here to protect the community but we depend on the community,” said Callahan. RevereTV Spotlight R evere High School’s Drama Club performed their first musical in 30 years, and RevereTV was there to catch it all. The musical was “In the Heights,” and the RTV staff on site say it was a phenomenal opening night last Wednesday. The play will soon be airing on the RevereTV Community Channel over the next month or so. Keep an eye out for it to be scheduled particularly on Friday and Saturday evenings. State Representative Jessica Giannino hosts a program on RTV called “View from the Hill.” This is an interview-style program that features a member of the 16th Suff olk District, which includes Revere, who contributes to the community in positive ways. This month, Representative Giannino’s guest is Massachusetts State Trooper Lieutenant Donald Bossi, who works out of the A-5 Barracks on Revere Beach. Watch this episode of “View from the Hill” to learn about Lt. Bossi’s journey to become a state trooper and his goals and intentions as a public servant in the city. “View from the Hill” will be playing on the Community Channel almost every weekday over the next few weeks. Last time local chef and dietiEverett Aluminum 10 Everett Ave., Everett 617-389-3839 “Same name, phone number & address for over half a century. We must be doing something right!” www.everettaluminum.com cian Victoria Fabbo was in the RevereTV kitchen studio, it was for a special Easter rendition of “Fabulous Foods.” That episode will be playing on the Community Channel for about one more week. Victoria was at RevereTV today to record another episode, which will be premiering next week. More details about what is on the menu for the next “Fabulous Foods with Victoria Fabbo” will be posted soon. This week’s announcements on “In the Loop” include a paid summer internship opportuREVERETV | SEE Page 18 425r Broadway, Saugus Located adjacent to Kohls Plaza Route 1 South in Saugus at the intersection of Walnut St. We are on MBTA Bus Route 429 781-231-1111 We are a Skating Rink with Bowling Alleys, Arcade and two TV’s where the ball games are always on! 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