SAPD Chief Paul Walters to receive Media Champion Award

Community: 18th Annual Mental Health Community Event Honors Chiefs Paul Walters and Robert Gustafson

The Santa Ana Police Department is pleased to announce that Chief PAUL M. WALTERS, along with Chief ROBERT GUSTAFSON, Orange Police Department, will receive the Media Champion Award during the 18th Annual Mental Health Community Events Luncheon. This award, presented by the Mental Health Association of Orange County, is in recognition of their departments’ involvement in producing and distributing training about persons with mental illness for law enforcement.

Receiving its premiere at this event is “Close Encounters: Managing Field Encounters with Persons with Mental Illness”. This program was produced by a public/private partnership composed of representatives from the Mental Health Association of Orange County, Orange Police Department, Santa Ana Police Department, St. Joseph Hospital and the City of Buena Park. It is the first of a series of training videos for law enforcement. Future topics will include: Homeless Court, Autism, Hoarders and Hoarding, Mental Illness in Veterans, Suicide by Cop and W&I 5150 (Welfare and Institutions code). These programs and other accompanying training materials will be distributed free of charge to all law enforcement agencies in Orange County.

DVD copies of “Close Encounters” and other training materials will be available.

Event: 18th Annual Mental Health Community Events Luncheon
Premiere of “Close Encounters: Managing Field Encounters with Persons with Mental Illness”

Location: The Turnip Rose Grand Newport Plaza, at 1901 Newport Boulevard, Costa Mesa

Date and Time: Thursday, February 23, 2012, from 11:30AM – 1:30PM

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Sent by Santa Ana Police Department, 60 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701