Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Since You Asked: Neighbor can move it or pave it Table Rock solid: Elementary school praised for keeping attendance up Wagner Creek Bridge repairs set into motion Downtown activity prompts need for review board Get Up & Go: Dec. 8 Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency Services Caretaker charged with stealing from disabled clients Medford: Most dangerous city in Oregon? Emergency Services Ashland police confirm missing teen Sylvia Davis found safe in Northern California Politics and Elections Time running out for O&C funds GMO vote recount still shows little change GMO labeling votes recounted under careful watch in Jackson County Kent Bush: First Amendment doesn’t mean what you think it means East Medford's the charm Education Table Rock solid: Elementary school praised for keeping attendance up Eagle Point superintendent invited to White House Eagle Point secures perimeter of Table Rock Elementary with new fence Medford school administrators get pay boost Students put their hearts into AIDS event Environment Home Help: Make your new house feel like home Bighorn sheep reintroduced along Klamath River Jackson County judge dismisses one Mt. View Paving case Advisory warns of blue-green algae bloom at Lost Creek Lake County calls for local control of federal lands State News OSU-Cascades request not in Kitzhaber's budget Teaching assistant strike goes into weekend Corvallis chamber: Just say no to panhandlers Nike expansion plans hint at dramatic design Uber launches in Portland without city OK Nation - World Grand jury won't indict Ferguson cop in shooting Obituaries Lucille (Smith) Allen Duane Cheney Cory Davis Robert R. Talbott Robert Archie Ferns Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Sports Latest Stories Davis takes over scoring lead, takes down Lakers No. 1 Kentucky rolls Eastern Kentucky Blazers win fourth straight, drop Knicks to 4-18 Comet named MVL player of year, first-team all-state All in Varsity 541 College Sports No. 1 Kentucky rolls Eastern Kentucky All in Moody scores 22, leads Ole Miss past Oregon Raider women earn triumph Payton has double-double as OSU rallies for win Pro Sports Davis takes over scoring lead, takes down Lakers Blazers win fourth straight, drop Knicks to 4-18 Raiders shock 49ers in Battle of the Bay Spieth wins by record 10 shots at Isleworth Pistons become Sixers' latest victims Community Sports Keeping Fit: Runners need to do more than run to stay in shape RESULTS/STANDINGS LOCAL EVENTS Business Latest Stories Jackson County judge dismisses one Mt. View Paving case Blog: A Time for Tradition SOU business students seek research projects Downtown property owners would fund economic development district in Medford MBA candidates lend their talents to clients for free Real Estate News More sales, but no change in residential housing median price Dear Monty: Violation of HOA rules creates conflict Farmers file suit over GMO crop ban People In Business People in Business, Dec. 3 People in Business, Nov. 18 Transportation Allegiant Air will resume Medford-Phoenix service May 22 Medford airport passenger counts sky high in October Agriculture Southern Oregon wine industry had a robust 2013 Farmers file suit over GMO crop ban Lawsuit seeks to overturn Jackson County's GMO ban or net $4.2 million for farms Latest count shows Measure 92 supporters narrowing deficit Opinion Latest Letters to the Editor, Dec. 8 Our View: Land takeover a sincere but empty gesture Letters to the Editor, Dec. 7 Guest Opinion: SOU pool decision short-sighted Guest Opinion: It's time for biologists to let OR-7 go dark Editorials Our View: Land takeover a sincere but empty gesture Other Views: OSU rape case is a teaching opportunity Our View: Oregon budget should plan for rain Our View: Cheers and jeers Our View: Stay flexible on kindergarten hours Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Dec. 8 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 7 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 5 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 4 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 3 Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: SOU pool decision short-sighted Guest Opinion: It's time for biologists to let OR-7 go dark Guest Opinion: It's time Oregon put a price on carbon Guest Opinion: Are we the preferred path to global devastation? Guest Opinion: Fight for the rights of independent voters will continue Lifestyle Latest stories Home Help: Make your new house feel like home Community blog: Redefining Family Creating memories with classic movies A green light for the flying train Stay connected as you grow older Food Community blog: Merry Christmas 10 Barrel! (Big Brewery vs Small Independent Brewer) Community blog: Lentil cooking water doubles as soup stock 'Amazing' Soup Roxy Ann winemaker has roots in Napa Valley Community blog: Post-holiday soups easy on the budget, waistline Home and Garden Home Help: Make your new house feel like home Troubleshoot common water boiler problems Dear Monty: Ten helpful home-listing tips Home Help: Luxurious upgrades don’t have to break the bank 9 ways to green your gift wrap Health Community blog: Redefining Family Dr. Murray Feingold: Say it like you mean it Community blog: Guiltless Holidays Better for our Health HealthStyle: Develop an attitude of gratitude Health Watch: Fuel up on carbs before workouts Hiking Biking Faith Religion news: Pope aims to expedite sex abuse rulings Religion news: Seattle-based mega-church dissolves Religion Briefs Milestones and Achievements Time running out for O&C funds Hire 'em and pray for snow Madi-Stiles A New Song Rogers-Horn Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories 4 Things to do this Week Ooblies Artisan Waffle Sandwiches Bedford Falls comes to life at Randall SOU presents all-percussion concert Soroptimist holiday home tour features four houses this weekend Theater Bedford Falls comes to life at Randall Camelot presents 'Fiddler on the Roof' OCT's holiday show is a wonderful play New 'Alice' has some for kids ... and adults 'It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play' opens at Oregon Cabaret Theatre Music SOU presents all-percussion concert Shae Johnson releases 'Can You Feel the Music' Jeff Kloetzel releases 'Long Time Coming' A new guitar slinger in town Peter Chianca: Top 40 songs even a dad could love Community Events Soroptimist holiday home tour features four houses this weekend Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists 2014 Providence Festival of Trees A grand illumination at the Commons Lighting up memories Dining Ooblies Artisan Waffle Sandwiches Brunch at Loft Brasserie The Bohemian Club Thanksgiving comes early at Taprock Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Table Rock solid: Elementary school praised for keeping attendance up ... Downtown activity prompts need for review board ... Oregon, Alabama, FSU, Ohio State are in college football playoffs ... Table Rock solid: Elementary school praised for keeping attendance up ... Downtown activity prompts need for review board ... Oregon, Alabama, FSU, Ohio State are in college football playoffs ... Medford police trained how to better respond to mentally ill By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 5, 2014 @ 12:01 am By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 5, 2014 @ 12:01 am » RELATED CONTENT • More mental health care services bring peace of mind » Social News When Medford police are asked during special training whether they've ever had a loved one affected by mental illness, half to three-quarters raise their hands. Lt. Curtis Whipple said officers are surprised when they see how many of their colleagues have personally dealt with mental illness. "Mental illness is like a dirty little secret. We need to get it out in the open and treat it like you do diabetes or heart disease," Whipple said. The question about mental illness launches an intensive week of Crisis Intervention Training for Medford police and other local law enforcement personnel working in Jackson County. In the past, Medford and Ashland police had to travel to Utah and California for specialized training on dealing with mentally ill people. But within the past year, Jackson County Mental Health Services has held three local CIT academies and is about to start its fourth. The goal is to certify all law enforcement personnel in the county within three years, said Mental Health Division Manager Stacy Brubaker. Police learn how to respond to mentally ill people in a positive, less threatening way. They listen to presentations about mental illnesses, talk to mentally ill people and veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and their families, visit a psychiatric care unit at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center, practice responding to different scenarios and take a certification test, Whipple said. "It's great for police and patients to have conversations," Brubaker said. At the end of the upcoming CIT academy, more than half of Medford police officers will be trained, Whipple said. And the training couldn't come too soon, he noted. The Medford Police Department is dealing with a surge of situations involving mental illness. In 2010, police took 196 people to the psychiatric care unit at RRMC. In 2013, they took 480 people to the center, Whipple said. Police responded to 204 incidents involving threatened, attempted or actual suicides in 2010, then watched the number of incidents surge to 478 in 2013, he said. Referrals to Jackson County Mental Health Services soared from 363 in 2010 to 824 in 2013, Whipple said. So far this year, the number of people taken to the psychiatric unit is up 13 percent, suicide incidents rose 23 percent and referrals for mental health services increased 27 percent, he said. "We deal with it every day. It's not like an every-now-and-then thing. It's every day. That's why it's imperative people have training," he said. The stakes can be life or death when handling calls involving people with mental illness. Police sometimes are not able to de-escalate a situation despite additional training. On Aug. 24, Medford police shot and killed 52-year-old Marine Corps veteran Stephen Andrew McMilon after he pointed a shotgun at an officer. The entire incident with police unfolded in about two minutes. A grand jury found the shooting was justified because fellow police were protecting the officer. McMilon, who friends said suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, had been walking down the street brandishing weapons. He was armed with three guns and 232 rounds of ammunition. Police had been called to his house 14 times since August 2013, including earlier that day when there was a report of a shot fired, according to Medford police Chief Tim George. Whipple said police don't know whether it's the economy, drug use, a lack of mental health care or other factors leading to surges in situations involving mental illness — although they do know Jackson County isn't alone. "Law enforcement everywhere is trying to find a fix," Whipple said. Brubaker said Medford police have embraced taking county mental health workers out on calls to help mentally ill people. She said she has received phone calls from family members who are thankful for how police dealt with mentally ill loved ones. The CIT training is helping officers understand what mentally ill people are going through and how to help them, Whipple said. "Officers who've been on the job for decades say it's the best training they've ever had and they wish they could have had it years ago," he said. Reach reporter Vickie Aldous at 541-776-4486 or by email at [email protected].   By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 5, 2014 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2014 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501