De-escalation training funding proffered for veteran interactions

Hoping to improve public safety officials’ interactions with military veterans, the House Veterans Affairs Division on Monday approved a bill that would allocate $200,000 for de-escalation training.

Under HF261, the Department of Public Safety would spend $100,000 in each of the next two years on training state and local community safety personnel in the use of de-escalation techniques. Sponsored by Rep. Tim O'Driscoll (R-Sartell), the bill was approved and now heads to the House Public Safety and Security Policy and Finance Committee. Twenty-three trainings were completed statewide in 2015 and 2016. Fourteen were completed in 2014, said Bill Micklus, associate director at the Upper Midwest Community Policing Institute.

The training is distributed through the state, and it’s offered in 24 classes with 35 trainees per class.

O’Driscoll said this specific training helps address needs of veterans who might suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and allows public safety officials to “be able to have the skills and tactics necessary to diffuse those situations.”

A similar bill, HF346, sponsored by Rep. Tony Cornish (R-Vernon Center), addresses de-escalation funding, too. The difference, however, is that O’Driscoll’s bill is an immediate appropriation and Cornish’s is a reimbursement to the agencies going through the training.

The bill’s companion is SF322, sponsored by Senate President Michelle Fischbach (R-Paynesville). It has been referred to the Senate Veterans and Military Affairs Finance and Policy Committee.

WATCH Full video of Monday's meeting of the House Veterans Affairs Division on YouTube