Littleton Police Department Undergoing Training to De-Escalate Critical Incidents 

LITTLETON — Chief Matthew Pinard is pleased to report that Littleton Police Department staff — including supervisors, officers, dispatchers and co-response clinicians — is undergoing training to more effectively de-escalate critical incidents and mental health crises. 

Twenty-seven employees are participating in Integrating Communications, Assessment and Tactics (ICAT) Training throughout the month of June. 

ICAT Training was designed by the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), a nationally renowned police research organization. 

The training is designed to teach various response options employees have when responding to critical incidents and mental health crises. The training includes both lectures and scenario-based exercises, all of which strongly emphasize officer safety, and the safety of others involved. 

The training covers topics such as mental health calls, communication skills, and de-escalation techniques, and teaches a team approach to handling calls. These instill best practices that are most likely to end in peaceful resolutions to dangerous situations. 

The training is being made possible by a $67,629 grant from the Bryne State Crisis Intervention Program (SCIP). The Bryne SCIP grants are aimed at reducing injuries and deaths from firearms by funding initiatives such as de-escalation training for police. 

“This training has given our officers, dispatchers, and command staff a better understanding of mental health calls, and how we can utilize our local resources to conclude calls with positive outcomes,” said Chief Pinard. “We are grateful to the Office of Grants and Research for this generous grant, and for the important training we were able to undergo.”

To learn more about ICAT training, visit: https://www.policeforum.org/icat-training-guide.