One of the largest Crisis Intervention Training Programs in the country concluded Friday.
Over forty law enforcement personnel from nine different agencies took part in a week-long training program hosted by Tucson Police.
The classes covered different methods and techniques to handle a person in a mental health crisis.
"There is stuff constantly we are running onto on the street," said Eduardo Valenzuela, a Tucson Police officer. "Now I have different knowledge of how I can deal with it this way versus the way we usually deal with it."
Tucson Police host largest Crisis Intervention Training Program in the country this week
Officers said the most important skill they learned and biggest take away from the week was communication.
"We also learn that you have to slow it down, slow it down and talk to them and maybe just get that little bit of information that says we will go this route from the mental health aspect of it instead of going this other route of the law enforcement side of it," said Tucson Police's Juan Carlos Rodriguez.
Officers say a large percentage of their calls are mental health related and this week allows them to practice and apply the skills in the field.
