De-escalation for United States Veterans in Crisis

Course Description: The purpose of this course is to provide Law Enforcement with extra techniques to enhance their de-escalation and rapport building with the United States Veteran population. The course will delve into the commonalities and bonds that facilitate the establishment of trust between first responders and U.S. Veterans in crisis. Whether the responding Officer has prior military experience or not, the course will describe evidence-based techniques to assist in empathy, rapport, trust, and the credibility required to have the positive behavioral change. It is important to understand that not all Veterans in crisis are suffering PTSD or TBI, but in case they are, knowing how to properly approach the situation safely and recognize possible symptoms is crucial.

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:

• • Understand the history and key facts related to United States Veterans in crisis.
  • Identify commonalities between law enforcement officers and Veterans to help build rapport.
  • Describe the revised Behavioral Influence Stairway Model (BISM).
  • Use appropriate closed- and open-ended questions when interacting with a distressed Veteran.
  • Anticipate and prepare for potential issues that may arise when engaging with a Veteran in crisis.
  • Identify available resources for Veterans experiencing mental health challenges and become familiar with trauma-focused psychotherapies.
  • Apply knowledge of the Department of Veterans Affairs and understand how its services can be leveraged.
  • Recognize state-level PTSD programs and available support.
  • Understand the importance of coordinated team practice for real-world situations involving law enforcement and U.S. Veterans in crisis.
  • Understand the critical components of the BISM and how they apply to Veterans.
  • Identify commonalities between law enforcement officers and U.S. Veterans.
  • Demonstrate familiarity with PTSD, TBI, mTBI, and the concept of Post-Traumatic Growth.
  • Recognize potential TPIs (Triggers/Points of Impact) and individuals to avoid during crisis interactions.
  • Identify common issues that may arise and strategies to effectively overcome them.

• Instructor: Timothy Quigley
• Date: January 22, 2026
• Time: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Hours: 8
• Location: North Campus, Building N110, Room 133
• Fill out the registration form here