Prince William County Police Department BRONZE AWARD

Officers responded to a residence on Chesapeake Drive in reference to a person in crisis (PIC) who called 911 reporting she was having suicidal thoughts. As the initial officers arrived on-scene, the community member retrieved a large butcher knife from the kitchen threatening to harm herself and/ or the officers. The officers remained calm and created distance within the apartment to reduce the likelihood of injury to the community member any officers.

Officer Benson and Sergeant Sullins both utilized their Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) skills to keep the community member calm while the other officers established a plan to resolve the situation as peacefully as possible. The officers spoke to the PIC for approximately one hour, but the community member refused to comply with the officer’s commands to drop the knife. The community member eventually put the knife down to smoke a cigarette but refused to step away from the knife. Officers knew the risk of injury to the community member and officers was greatly reduced while the knife was not in her hands. They further knew if the community member was able to retrieve the knife again, the risk to her and the officers was elevated. They used this opportunity to establish a plan to end the standoff with reduced risk of injury.

Office Vasquez deployed his electronic restraint device as Sergeant Sullins and Officer Benson were able to take the community member into custody on an Emergency Custody Order, and Officer McAdam retrieved the knife. The community member was taken to the hospital and the Community Services Board was able to provide her with services.