With mental health once again a front-and-center debate, Austin’s Public Safety Commission has recommended more training and funding for first responders.
Austin police officers get 40 hours of mental health training, and a select few others are given 40 additional hours to become certified mental health officers. They earn a $175 a month stipend, but Chris Harris with the Public Safety Commission thinks that stipend should be done away with.
Senior auditor Cameron Legrone says a recent audit found a big gap in the number of officers who receive intervention training.
The commission instead is recommending mental health training for all officers to increase the number available to respond to crisis calls.
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