EDP: Emotionally Disturbed Persons

01 Jun EDP: Emotionally Disturbed Persons

CBI has started a new assignment in the north part of the city that has inspired reflection regarding how to deal with Emotionally Disturbed Persons.  This subject finds relevance throughout all CBI sites. Although we can’t claim particular expertise in this area, we at CBI are uniquely equipped to speak to this topic having dealt with our fair share of these individuals during careers in law enforcement. This is in no way designed to understand, diagnose, or provide an extensive explanation of dealing with EDPs. Hopefully, this short topic review will simply help you to recognize some things of which to be cognizant of when dealing with EDPs.

There are three encompassing categories of EDPs

• Long-term – chronically mentally ill.
• Chemical abuser – drug and alcohol
• Short term – temporarily out of control

Dealing with individuals in security enforcement, and related contexts, who are known or suspected to be mentally ill carries the potential for violence, requires a security officer to make difficult judgments about the mental state and intent of the individual, and requires special skills and abilities to effectively and legally deal with the person so as to avoid unnecessary violence and potential civil litigation.

One thing to recognize is that EDPs have the potential to be human powder kegs. Many of the EDP persons will have many of these same symptoms or reactions:

• Withdrawal from reality.
• Feelings of suspicion, defensiveness, and persecution.
• Fearful or violent hallucinations and delusions.
• Resentment or fear of authority.
• Distorted self-image.
• Exaggerated need to “right wrongs”.
• Ability to change behavior rapidly.

When dealing with an EDP, there are some very important things that you should consider:

• Never underestimate the intelligence of an EDP.
• Get back up as soon as possible. Don’t try to deal with an EDP on your own if at all possible.
• Take your time.
• Talk softly, slowly, and simply.
• Try to calm the subject.
• Maintain distance and escape routes.
• Be ready to use force if necessary.
• Don’t be lulled by apparent cooperation.

Remember to listen, offer help, doing so with a low-intensity approach and high-intensity awareness. Given the unpredictable and sometimes violent nature of the mentally ill, officers should never compromise or jeopardize their safety or the safety of others when dealing with individuals displaying symptoms of mental illness.

Author: t6admin