Ann Arbor Times

With mental health-related calls increasing on college campuses across the country, many police departments are seeking new approaches to better handle these situations. Recent data indicates that a majority of campus police have observed a rise in hospitalizations connected to mental health and an overall increase in such incidents over the past five years. Studies suggest that crisis intervention programs can help officers feel more prepared, lower the use of force, and improve referrals to treatment.

In response to these challenges, Eastern Michigan University (EMU) and the Ann Arbor Police Department (AAPD) have partnered to create an interactive training program that combines theater techniques with law enforcement practices. The initiative aims to enhance officers’ abilities when responding to individuals experiencing mental health crises.

Barbara Walters, an EMU social work professor, and Kasey Whitford, AAPD’s community engagement officer, led the development of this new crisis prevention training for AAPD. “I thought it would be cool to use theatre students instead of other officers, because with trained actors, the scenarios feel more real,” said Whitford.

The training involved simulated scenarios where officers responded to people in psychiatric distress or facing behavioral health emergencies. These real-time roleplays allowed participants to practice de-escalation tactics and trauma-informed communication.

Guidance for the project came from professors Walters and Jessica (Decky) Alexander at EMU. They facilitated connections between graduate students Dan Johnson and Adam Weisman—who specialize in educational performance—and local law enforcement. “We thought that this would be the perfect project because we don’t want the students’ work just to be a simulated assignment for class, but something with actual impact so that they can see themselves as actual artisans utilizing their tools for significant change,” said Alexander.

Johnson and Weisman took part in revising scenario content alongside Whitford so it accurately reflected complex mental health issues encountered by police. “From a training standpoint, we knew it wouldn’t be helpful to the officers to present a stereotype. We wanted to present something that honors people with mental health challenges genuinely, and from there, we revised the cases that we were given to humanize the material,” said Johnson.

“Having trained actors allowed us to push the realism of the scenarios,” added Whitford. “It helped officers think on their feet and reflect on how to respond with more care and confidence under pressure.”

Founded in 1849, Eastern Michigan University is one of Michigan’s oldest public universities. It enrolls nearly 13,000 students across undergraduate through doctoral levels and offers more than 300 academic programs spanning arts and sciences; business; education; engineering and technology; health and human services; as well as graduate studies. More information about EMU can be found at its official website: https://www.emich.edu/.

National publications regularly recognize EMU for its achievements in diversity and applied education. Additional details about university rankings are available online: https://www.emich.edu/about/points-of-pride.php.

For ongoing updates on university activities or announcements visit: https://today.emich.edu/.