Police complete Crisis Management Training
West Pikeland Township Police Chief Thomas Goggin and Officer Alexander Sarcione attended training on the Keystone Model of Crisis Management, presented by Penn State University and the Pennsylvania State Police. The training provided hands on experience with health care providers, and guidance on safe and effective strategies provided by the PA State Police. As part of the training, the Philadelphia Eagles Autism Foundation donated backpacks equipped with resources to help police communicate with persons with autism. The kit includes noise cancelling headphones, picture cards to identify needs of individuals, and a weighted blanket, and sensory stimming tools.
The Keystone Model of Crisis Management (KMCM) is
an experiential training program designed to teach law enforcement officers and first responders how to safely recognize, de-escalate, and stabilize individuals experiencing behavioral health or mental health crises.
Key Details of the Program
Partnership: Developed collaboratively by the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) Bureau of Training and Education, Penn State Health (including the Department of Nursing, Clinical Simulation Center, and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health), and the PA Psychiatric Institute.
Training Format: Combines classroom instruction, didactic lectures, and hands-on, live-action simulations featuring trained actor-role-players and virtual scenarios.
Core Curriculum: Focuses on crisis identification, de-escalation strategies, stabilization techniques, and specialized communication for complex scenarios—including psychosis, autism, and suicidal behavior.
Debriefing: Uses structured, guided post-simulation reflection and discussions with instructors to help cadets and officers review decision-making and improve responses.
Expansion: Initially deployed across Pennsylvania State Police classes and regional police academies (such as Lackawanna College Police Academy), the program has expanded to municipal police, university campuses, and neighboring states like West Virginia.
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