Dutiful Minds
“It’s More Than Just Training”

Teaching Law Enforcement
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To deal more effectively with the
mentally ill – who make up 10% of
the calls officers respond to!

(Los Angeles Times 1999)

Persons in crisis who are mentally ill
commit more than 1,000 homicides
per year

WHY?
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Reduce injuries to officers
Reduce injuries to the mentally ill
Reduce liability
Divert mentally ill from jail and get
them the help they really need

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+It’s the right thing to do!

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(Not just a claim but an evidence based practice – Kent State University)

Officer Safety
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“Special populations need and
deserve specially trained officers”

Major Sam Cochran – Memphis Police Dept.

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Proven techniques to de-escalate
volatile mentally ill persons
Wherever CIT is in place the call for
SWAT & Negotiators decreases by
60%

Mentally Ill Safety
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“It is the wise officer that can at
times conceal their combat ready
status” Lt. Michael Woody (Ret) Director of Training – Akron Police Dept.
Officers learn how to gain voluntary
compliance from delusional mentally
ill persons in crisis

Liability
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City of Canton vs. Harris – 1989 civil case
U.S. Supreme Court coined term
“Deliberate Indifference”
Officers MUST be trained to handle
everyday, job-related problems

Lead Instructor and Facilitator
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Lt. Michael S. Woody (Ret) – Director

of Training; Akron Police Dept.
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25 years of law enforcement experience
“Compassion in Law Enforcement”
National Award
Summit County Mental Health Board
“Heart of Gold” Award
B.A. in Education – University of Akron

Lt. Woody
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Currently sits on The Ohio Supreme
Courts Mental Health Initiatives
formal Committee
Is Chairman of The Ohio Supreme
Courts Police Training sub-committee
Is on the Executive committee of the
National CIT Planning Organization

Lt. Woody
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Is a Consultant to:
The Presidents New Freedom
Commission on Mental Health Issues
The National G.A.I.N.S. Center
Ohio Criminal Justice Services
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
Northeastern Ohio Universities
College of Medicine

Lt. Woody
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Is currently the State of Ohio Crisis
Intervention Team (CIT) Specialist
for The Coordinating Center of
Excellence/Criminal Justice
(A program funded by the Ohio Department of Mental Health)

There are now more CIT programs up and running in Ohio than any other
state thanks, in part, to Lt. Woody’s dedication and commitment

Availability in Ohio
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Funded by State Grants to conduct,
supervise and consult with
communities looking at initiating
Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) and
other jail diversion programs in Ohio
Law Enforcement
Mental Health Providers
Consumer Groups e.g. NAMI

Other States
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Lt. Woody conducts/facilitates oneday to 5-day trainings tailored to
your community needs and budget
He consults with the different
organizations to bring them together
and form partnerships to make CIT
work efficiently and effectively

Examples
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1-day Crisis Intervention Team
training:
Geared to the officer that deals with these types
of calls on a daily basis (10% of all dispatched
calls)
Gets into de-escalation, meds, suicide calls,
illnesses, mentally ill persons and family
members perspective.
Less-lethal force issues
And more

Not Just For Line Officers

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Training can be tailored to be
relevant for Dispatchers/Call takers,
Probation/Parole officers, EMS and
first-line supervisors

For More Information
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Lt. Woody can easily be contacted
online at:
michael.s.woody@earthlink.net
(330)896-4001; Cell:(330)281-1399
Mail: 1471 Cherry Lane, Uniontown, OH 44685

He is also available as a long-term
consultant

*
Lt. Woody had the unfortunate experience of
having a mentally ill woman try to kill him
many years ago. She ultimately lost her own
life as a result. Since that time, Lt. Woody
has researched a better and safer way to
handle mentally ill persons in crisis. He is a
passionate speaker that holds the audience
attention and relates very well to law
enforcement officers

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