At the Thursday, May 15 meeting of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners, the board plans to approve a $256,288 contract with the purpose of providing de-escalation training to the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office.
For the sheriff’s deputies, the training will be conducted by Crisis Consulting Group – a provider that’s approved by the US Department of Justice’s Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program.
This two-year initiative will include live, in-person instruction for all sworn deputies as well as for the detention officers in the county’s jails in Greensboro and High Point.
As part of the new program, ten officers will complete what are called “Train the Trainer” courses, which will allow the Sheriff’s Office to continue the training for new hires and offer refresher courses to current staff in coming years.
No county money will be used to fund the training; it will be paid for entirely by a federal grant from the Justice Department.
A key focus of the training will be on alternatives to the use of force, crisis response and tactics for safely handling people who are experiencing mental health or behavioral crises or are particularly emotional during an encounter.
A certified Master Level Instructor with front-line law enforcement experience will lead the Sheriff’s Office’s training sessions, which will cover both beginner and advanced levels.
The de-escalation program is funded through a COPS grant that was accepted by the Guilford County Board of Commissioners in December 2024.
The contract with Crisis Consulting Group will run from May 2025 through September 30, 2026.
Starting on Thursday, May 15, the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office will begin the comprehensive new training program with the Virginia-based company that will show officers in the field and in the jails how to create safer and more effective outcomes during high-stress encounters.
This initiative is part of a broader national effort supported by the US Department of Justice’s 2024 “Safer Outcomes” grant – which funds de-escalation and crisis response training for law enforcement agencies across the country.
At the heart of the program are specially designed on-location de-escalation training sessions conducted at least ten times over the two-year time period. Each session will accommodate about 50 participants and include both beginner and advanced training sections.
The “Train-the-Trainer” component is an intensive two-and-a-half-day course meant to equip these people to lead future training sessions, helping the Sheriff’s Office sustain the program once the contract period runs out.
The in-house trainers will be certified for one year – with a follow-up four-hour virtual recertification course scheduled to take place the following year to maintain their instructor credentials.
Topics will include things like de-escalating verbal and non-verbal communication strategies, stress management, situational awareness and legal considerations.
Guilford County has the right to terminate the contract – either with or without cause.
County officials say the program reflects a growing emphasis on mental health awareness and responsible policing in the community as well as a desire to bring about practices that are safer for both officers and the public.
Participants will learn practical techniques on how to slow down confrontations, communicate effectively and avoid the use of force when possible. The ultimate goal of the program is to reduce the number of Guilford County Sheriff’s Office incidents that result in physical confrontation or injury to anyone.
This initiative reflects a broader national trend toward addressing mental health challenges within the criminal justice system through training, prevention and a wider use of services provided by community-based organizations.
I’m surprised that this isn’t already part of an officer’s training and recertification. Knowing how to handle emotionally charged incidents is safer for everyone.
How much more does law enforcement need to de-escalate; they are killing each other in the streets. Just more waste of money.
Not county dollars , but federal dollars. It all comes out of your pocket. Only time will tell if the soft touch works.
Sounds like some of WOKE crap to me.
So you prefer cops continue to escalate minor incidents (such as selling individual cigarettes on the street) up to point they have to wrestle, beat, or kill people? Over something that was minor to begin with? Keep in mind that many people that struggle with this type of engagement are mentally ill or even vets who suffer from PTSD.
End of the day it is a good tool for officers to have in ‘bag’ not just for the criminal’s safety but for their own as well.
This is our money. Wouldn’t we be better served with more officers on the street?
Very informative article. Guilford county is intent on taking more of our hard earned money. I read where the de-escalation training is funded by a federal grant.
Somehow guilford will use this as an excuse for more taxes.
It’s the public that needs de-escalation, diversity, sensitivity training NOT law enforcement!
So sick of blaming law enforcement for idiots in society who either weren’t raised properly or who are just plain a$$holes.
Greene You are exactly right. Some members of society refuse to be law abiding citizens and when they get caught by law enforcement they want to resist authority. This is what really leads to the problem and causes more trouble. These are the people who need to be “trained” by the courts to better citizens.
$5 Trillion won’t improve morale, fill vacancies or give you a better department. Only an election will. Even after that it will take multiple years to undo the damage of the last 7.
“No county money will be used to fund the training; it will be paid for entirely by a federal grant from the Justice Department.”
(Hand raised in the back of the room) Where is the federal grant money coming from? Chris would say the federal government with a few insults thrown in. FEDERAL GRANT MONEY COMES FROM US, THE FEDERAL TAX PAYING HARD WORKING CITIZENS!!!
Nice try Commissars propaganda wing……..next
As a reminder on crime in our area. The recent County Health report showed homicides increasing over 40% from 9.5 homicides / 100,000 residents to 13.5 homicides/100,000 residents over the past few years. 2023 had record homicides in Greensboro which also was the highest increase of all cities in NC from 2022 to 2023. During this time period, the Guilford County jail actually saw a decrease in prison population from over 1,000 to around 690. Guilford County Democrat control has a DA and Sheriff along with elected area judges who are soft on crime and the public suffers as a result. Unafilliated voters and registered Democrats need to see what is going on around them and stop voting these people in just because they have a D beside their name on the ballot. Wake up to protect your families and friends from going to the morgue!!