Veterans Sequential Intercept Model
Sgt. David Cavanaugh
Boise Police Department
DCavanaugh@cityofboise.org
July 28, 2009
• Boise Police shooting with a combat veteran.
• We already had a CIT program.
• This incident pushed our Veterans Court
forward.
• And also the need for a program geared
toward veterans.
Second Incident
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Recently returned Vet
Living with parents
Passed out in room with rifle on chest
Chose to not force the issue
Called VA for follow-up
One week later at first appointment
Other Incidents
• There are multiple referrals (Intercepts) every
week
• We believe there at least 13 “saves”.
December 1, 2011
• In December of 2011 our program was one of
four Community Action Teams selected by the
Pentagon Office of Warrior and Family
Support.
• I was able to present this program as a part of
the Community Outreach Panel Discussion for
Wounded Warriors/Veterans.
• It is a great honor to be able to share what it
has become today.
Your Objectives
• When you read the title of this workshop;
• What were (are) your expectations?
• What do you hope to get from our time
together?
Objectives
• Recognize the four stages of the Intercept
Program
• Discuss how you might implement a similar
program.
• Create your own list of partners for a
successful Intercept program.*
Plus – Today Only!
• Send me an email and ask for Intercept
material.
• Dcavanaugh@cityofboise.org
• As with CIT the goal is to improve outcomes
between veterans in crisis and LE.
David Cavanaugh
• Law Enforcement since 1990.
• CIT Coordinator since 2007.
• Veteran’s Intercept since 2009 as an off-shoot
of CIT, Veteran’s Court and several specific
incidents.
We Are Very Good At Rescue
We Need To Be Better Earlier
Four Stages
Pre-Law Enforcement
• Returning Veteran not as productive at work
or school?
Pre-Law Enforcement
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Family notices drastic changes.
Veteran returns to school and has troubles.
LE Contact but the veteran is the victim or RP.
LE Contact and it’s the family asking for help.
Children’s behavior changes in school.
“Never tell anyone that there is nothing you
can do for them.”
Pre-Law Enforcement
I.A.C.P. Website
• What about the
officer who is
returning from
deployment?
Law Enforcement Contact
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Cops are Problem Solvers.
We arrive.
We assess.
We warn, cite or arrest.
We move on to the next call.
Crisis calls are frustrating to patrol officers.
As with CIT, this gives them resources.
Contact & Follow-Up
• Give the officers a single point of contact.
• I have mine complete a report then the report
to me. Or details if no report.
• cc the officer when you forward the
information.
• Follow-up: make sure the officer knows the
outcome.
• No Black Holes! Quick “Atta Boys”.
Contact & Follow-Up
• My Veteran Contacts:
– V.A. (2 main contacts)
– Vet. Center (2 main contacts)
– Veteran’s Network (2 main contacts)
– National Guard (4 main contacts)
As With CIT
• Make it as easy, or easier to refer rather than
arrest.
• Make it rewarding by letting the officer know
the outcome.
• Give tools to the officers.
• Praise them for correct behavior.
Publicity
• Somewhere in here this component must be
included.
• As with CIT, this program will not solve all
problems.
• Get some tame media folks.
• Educate the people the media will go to.
– Families, Groups, Service Providers, Local
Government…
Accommodation Registry
• A method by which:
– Accurate information gets to the officers while
enroute to the call.
– The officer may relay information to the care giver.
– The officer may get a person in crisis help other
than a “Hold”.
• This will look different in most jurisdictions:
– 24/7 access, Public Records Requests, Updated
Data, Read/Write Access.
Arrest/Jail
• VA Criminal Justice Outreach Coordinator.
• Veteran’s Groups Special Access.
• Specific Jail Programs.
Veteran’s Court
• If you don’t have one already, I encourage you
to start beating the drum.
• How you accomplish this will vary.
– Get a judge as early as you can.
• Who will be involved will vary.
• The rules for admission will vary.
• But specialty courts work.
Veteran’s Court
• According to the National Association of Drug
Court Professionals 70% of the veterans finish
the programs, and 75% are not rearrested
within two years.
• National Drug Court resource Center 2012
article.
• Of the ten Veteran’s Court in PA.
• There is a 1% recidivism rate.
Veteran’s Court
• In 2000, the Conference of Chief Justices and
Conference of State Court Administrators gave a
joint seal of approval to the term “problemsolving courts,” and, even more significantly, they
called for “the broad integration over the next
decade of the principles and methods employed
in the problem-solving courts into the
administration of justice.”
• The American Bar Association passed a similar
resolution in 2002.
Intercept Involvement
Police – Sheriff – Jail – State Police
Kids
Colleges
Universities
Teachers
SROs
Thru PR
Or Groups
L.E.
Educators
Public
Mental
Health
Employers
Prosecutors
Defense
Judges
Probation
Prisons
Criminal
Justice
Military
Print Media
Video Media
Organizations
NAMI
* Contacts
H&W
NAMI
E.R.s
Psych Hospitals
Private Providers
National Guard
V.A.
Volunteer Groups
Peer To Peer Mentors
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Vital Component.
Ensure training.
Consider information release waivers.
Make them a part of the solution.
Be prepared to be a mediator between groups
and organizations.
Peer To Peer Mentors
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Assemble a diverse group of volunteers.
Keep track of their basic service records.
Match up as close as possible with vet.
VA in our area presented four hour training.
Additional VA Orientation needs to happen.
Get Buy-In from mentors!
– Hidden Agendas or “axes to grind” can be bad…
Has This Been Helpful?
• Do you have ideas that you can take back
home?
• We’d like to hear some thoughts on how you
plan to tackle this.
In Conclusion
• Boise Police and the Veteran’s Network
produced a video:
• “Private Combat”
• We gave NAMI Boise the rights to the video.
• Order forms are on the NAMI Boise website;
or I can email the form to you.
In Conclusion
In Conclusion
As with CIT
• The manner in which you execute this will
vary.
• The important part is to try.
• It will be a long haul.
• When we identified our first “save” we knew it
was worth it.