Five Meridian police officers complete additional crisis intervention training

Five members of the Meridian Police Department completed a week of additional Crisis Intervention Team training, the department said.

The officers are Stephanie Garcia, Charles McCall, Michael Thomas, Chameria Washington and Jamie White.

The training gives officers tools to recognize mental health crises, de-escalate difficult situations and connect people with appropriate help when needed.

“Every call doesn’t require someone to go to jail. Sometimes a person simply needs the right person there who understands the situation and knows how to help,” Assistant Chief Dareall Thompson said.

The city said the training means safer encounters, better outcomes and stronger trust for the community. The department congratulated the five officers on completing the training.

Source: City of Meridian-Government.