The Portland City Council is set to vote in late November on additional crisis training for police officers.
Mayor Tom Potter wants all Portland police patrol officers to undergo the crisis intervention training, to prepare them for potential confrontations with the mentally ill.
During their Tuesday meeting, Potter asked the city council to allocate $250,000 for the specialized crisis intervention training.
Mental health advocates have called for increased CIT for all officers in the wake of James Chasse’s death. Chasse, who was mentally ill, died in police custody last month.
“Increasingly, our public safety officers are the first responders for people on the street with mental health issues,” Potter said. “Any additional training we can provide them is worth the investment for our community.”
The money would come from a pool of more than $18 million in unanticipated revenue which is the result of Portland’s improving economy, according to the mayor’s office.
The council is set to vote on the issue on November 29.