Mentally Ill Callers at Leander Police Department

A mentally ill person can be a threat to themselves, the caller, and responders. It is important to recognize common mental illnesses and their warning signs. This will help ECPs process calls from or regarding a mentally ill person.

Course Length: 8 Hours
Equivalent to TCOLE Course Number: #4040

Students who take this course will be able to:

• The student will be able to define mental illness.
• The student will be able to list statistics related to mental illness.
• The student will be able to explain types of anxiety disorders.
• The student will be able to discuss the states of bipolar disorder.
• The student will be able to explain the behavior of someone with borderline personality disorder. The student will be able to list causes of depression.
• The student will be able to differentiate between types of dissociative disorders.
• The student will be able to explain the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.
• The student will be able to determine the two major signs of psychosis.
• The student will be able to recognize the signs of schizophrenia.
• The student will be able to explain schizoaffective disorder.
• The student will be able to process a call from a person with mental illness.
• The student will be able to ask pertinent questions regarding a mentally ill person.
• The student will be able to list ways to ensure responder safety.

Students will complete an activity to reinforce call taking techniques related to handling a call regarding or from a mentally ill person.

Instructor

Tina Chaffin started her career with 9-1-1 in 1996 in Plano, Texas. Throughout childhood, Tina wanted to be a teacher. Sitting in classroom training on the first day of 9-1-1 training, she made a goal. The goal was to be the person who teaches 9-1- 1 Emergency Communication Professionals (ECPs). Tina is extremely passionate about the 9-1-1 profession and advocates for ECPs in many ways. Tina is the Past-President of the Texas 9-1-1 Trainer (TNT) group and has been involved with the group for over 15 years. Tina founded the National 9-1-1 Trainer Forum, holding a yearly conference for 9- 1-1 trainers from around the nation. Tina is also involved with APCO International Committees and has published numerous articles in the APCO Magazine. Tina firmly believes in the recognition of ECPs and pushes the topic every chance she gets. Recently Tina launched an online training site, intending to provide relevant, quality, low-cost training for ECPs around the United States.

Since 1996, Tina has worked as a 9-1-1 dispatcher, call-taker, and trainer for large and small cities alike. She also has experience working as a ECP at an International Airport and a 4-year college. Tina currently works in an Emergency Communications Center (ECC), dispatching police and fire, to ensure her skills are up-to-date.

Tina has provided classroom training for the majority of her career. Additionally, Tina has presented at National and State conferences throughout the US. In addition to working in an ECC, Tina currently trains an average of 650 hours per year.

Licenses/Certifications

• NENA Emergency Number Professional (ENP)
• APCO Registered Public Safety Leader (RPL)
• Master Telecommunicator License
• Advanced TCOLE Instructor
• Texas DPS TCIC/TLETS Instructor
• Instructor for National Center for Missing and Exploited Children course for ECPs

Special Instructions

To promote a professional training environment, CAPCOG requires proper attire.  Attendee must provide their PID # to receive TCOLE credit for courses taken through CAPCOG. CAPCOG provides training for the Emergency Communication Centers (ECC) in our region at no cost to 9-1-1 telecommunicators and their departments. When space is reserved for a 9-1-1 training class offered by CAPCOG, students or the supervisor who made the reservation must cancel such reservation at least two business days prior to start of the class.

For Questions

Contact Pamela Frisk, CAPCOG. 9-1-1 Training & Public Education Manager