Conference Held to Educate First Responders on Critical Crisis Situations Involving Veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder NR10165SF

WHAT:   
Public safety training conference
        
WHEN:   
Friday, July 9, 2010 8:00 a.m.

WHERE:   
California Endowment Center for Healthy Living
1000 North Alameda Street
Los Angeles, CA  90012
        
WHO:       
Detective Teresa Irvin, Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) Mental Evaluation Unit Law enforcement officers, fire fighters, crisis negotiators, and other first responders

WHY:    
The LAPD has partnered with the National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to sponsor training focused on first responders who respond to the growing number of emergency calls related to former military men and women affected by PTSD or Traumatic Head Injuries.  

Due to the rise in the number of incidents involving former military involved in critical crisis situations, like hostage taking, barricades, suicides, and armed stand offs, Detective Teresa Irvin, a supervisor in LAPD’s Mental Evaluation Unit, coordinated the 2010 From Combat to Community conference.  The goal of the conference is to better educate first responders on the right things to say and do, to defuse critical crisis situations involving veterans who suffer from PTSD, quickly and peacefully.

The 8-hour conference begins at 8:00 a.m., and is free to all law enforcement officers, fire fighters, crisis negotiators, and other professional first responders.  Organizers for the event anticipate more than 350 public safety officials to attend and welcome the media.

CONTACT:   
For more information, or to register for From Combat to Community, please contact Detective Teresa Irvin at 213-996-1322, or by e-mail at: 30461@lapd.lacity.org.