Discussion Points
Introduction
PTSD and TBI
Suicide
CVIC Response Teams
U.S. War Casualties
 Iraq:
4,489
 Afghanistan: 2,353
 Combined total since 2001: 6,842
One combat veteran commits
suicide every hour; 22 per day.
There are 25 veteran suicides for every combat death.
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According to research, 33% of active duty combat veterans have PTSD
and nearly 50% of reservists have PTSD. The rates are even higher
from those after serving multiple deployments.
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Historically, less than 20% of veterans with PTSD ever seek treatment.
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The VA’s National Center on PTSD reports a direct connection with
PTSD and subsequent contact with the criminal justice system.
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Many combat veterans with PTSD do not seek help because they do
not think it will help, they see treatment as a sign of weakness, or they
are concerned about the negative reaction of others.
TBI – Traumatic Brain Injury
Is a non-degenerative, non-congenital insult or
injury to the brain from an external mechanical
force, possibly leading to permanent or
temporary impairment of cognitive, physical, and
psychosocial functions, with an associated
diminished or altered state of consciousness.
TBI and PTSD;
Overlap Illustration
Attention
Problems
TBI
Migraines
PTSD
Flashbacks
Nightmares
Depression
Irritability
Poor Anger
Control
Nausea &
Vomiting
Sleep
Problems
Hearing
Loss
Ringing
in Ears
Dizziness
Isolates
Self
Easily
Startled
Anxiety
Battlemind: is that which helps
ensure combat survivability and
which can be a negative attribute in
the “real” world.
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Buddies (team cohesion) vs. Withdrawal
Targeted Aggression vs. Inappropriate Aggression
Situational Awareness vs. Hypervigilance
Combat Driving vs. Aggressive Driving
Armed Legally vs. “Locked and Loaded” mentality
Emotional/Impulse Control vs. Anger Management
Common Battlemind Behaviors
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Risky actions to feel the adrenaline rush again
Erratic or dangerous driving habits/road rage (driving down
middle of the road; sudden avoidance of roadside objects;
swerving under bridges; driving over curbs to avoid
intersections)
Panic attacks while stuck in traffic
Alcohol abuse
Domestic violence against spouse and/or family members
Addictive actions (work, alcohol, drugs, food, adrenaline,
sex)
Crisis Incidents from around the
United States involving combat
veterans in crisis
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July 2013, Army Pfc. Dustin Cole fatally shot and killed Killeen Police
officer Bobby Hornsby. Cole suffered from PTSD after two deployments
to Afghanistan. He was highly intoxicated at the time of the shooting.
July 2014, Police in Wichita shoot and kill Icarus Randolph after
attempts to intervene in his suicide attempt failed. Randolph, who
suffered from PTSD, charged at police with a weapon in his hand and
was pronounced dead at the hospital an hour later.
August 2014, Greely Police Officers were called to a report of an armed
and intoxicated man at 3am. When they arrived, they saw 21 year old
Army veteran Jacinto Zavala in the front yard. Zavala was shot and
killed after he pointed a long gun at the responding officers.
December 2014, Former Marine Bradley William Stone shot and killed
his ex-wife and five relatives and seriously wounded another before
killing himself. Bradley suffered from PTSD and had in Iraq. He had 3
DUI arrests since returning home.
December 2014, a 27 year old military veteran suffering from PTSD
barricaded himself inside his Watertown home and fired shots at police.
CVIC (Combat Veteran in Crisis)
Response Teams

For a combat veteran, talking to someone who has not been
in combat is difficult because they may not feel others cannot
understand or relate to their feelings and/or experiences.
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A trained CIT officer, who is also a combat veteran, can more
closely relate and communicate to the veteran in crisis
because of similar or shared experiences.
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CVIC Response Teams are comprised of specially trained
and uniquely experienced officers and are utilized whenever
possible as the subject matter experts during a veteran in
crisis incident.
Apex Police Experience
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Case study or video
CVIC (Combat Veteran in Crisis)
Response Teams
Recommendations
Recommend NAMI consider creating a post CIT specialty
class for all interested combat veteran law enforcement
officers.
 Recommend at least 16 hours of additional CIT training with
on-site visit to a VA hospital.
 Recommend creating county and/or regional CVIC
Response Teams to assist those agencies who may not
have this resource within their own ranks.
 Recommend close coordination and buy-in from the
Department of Veterans Affairs to become the primary
receiving point for all combat veterans in crisis.
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Conclusion