Sheriff's office staff attend Crisis Intervention Training

I am pleased to report that seven deputies from my office and three dispatchers from Bonner County 911 attended and graduated from the seventh Crisis Intervention Training Academy in the first week of March 2015. I am in the midst of planning the eighth CIT Academy.

Approximately 70 percent of my sworn sheriff’s office fulltime staff has attended Crisis Intervention Training.

The program for the five northern counties started in Bonner County at my urging in 2009. Not only am I committed to this training for my staff but I sit on the Region 1 Behavioral Health Board which also serves the five northern counties. I am continually looking to find solutions and partners to help people in crisis and who need access to mental health services. My commitment for peaceful resolutions to each and every difficult circumstance is unmatched. Despite this, not all incidents will conclude with a happy ending. I consider this a tragic reality.

As your sheriff, I have a two-fold mission, one to the public and the other to my officers. I aim to see to it that both are treated with respect. I continue to search out and employ the latest tools to handle those individuals in mental crisis. In 2014, I made the decision to add another non-lethal tool, which was the bean bag shotgun round using specially designated firearms. Our deputies are now training with less lethal tools to include Taser, use of a K-9 and bean bag rounds.

Mr. Mimmack, while I will continue to be on the cutting edge of effective management when it comes to dealing with difficult situations, I also will continue to deal frankly with those individuals who vilify law enforcement without all the facts. You stand corrected.

DARYL WHEELER

Hope

Bonner County Sheriff