GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WZZM) - The Grand Rapids Police Department held a special training session Tuesday night. The class is intended to teach officers different ways to de-escalate a situation.
Instructors from Pine Rest Mental Health Services were brought in to teach the class. Every single officer from GRPD will attend the training.
"We really needed to give our officers more and better options with respect to de-escalating situations," said Sgt. John Wittkowski.
Police believe the training can especially help in one critical area -- getting reluctant witnesses to talk.
"If they know we're going to listen, if they know we're going to give them the time of day, maybe they'll be more apt to engage the police," said Wittkowski.
The training is expected to complete by November 19.