Bill > H2137

This bill establishes a pilot grant program, administered by the Executive Office of Public Safety (EOPSS), to train police officers in "Emotional CPR," a method designed to reduce the traumatic impact of interactions between law enforcement and individuals experiencing acute emotional distress, thereby aiming to decrease injuries to both officers and community members. The program will award grants to municipal police departments, providing funds for training sessions that teach skills in connecting, empowering, and revitalizing individuals through practical exercises and dialogue. An evaluation will be conducted before and after the training to assess its effectiveness and how often the learned techniques are used in the field, with the University of Massachusetts Medical School and NEC staff collaborating with EOPSS on this research, and the findings will be shared with the Legislature and the public.