A couple of weeks ago I posted about a new DOJ funded initiative to train cops to deal with military veterans in crisis. Yesterday there was this great story posted over at the Fayetteville Observer that also covers this topic.
The shootout with Eisenhauer is the most public of what appears to be a surge in violent behavior and suicides among Fort Bragg soldiers and combat veterans in recent months
Like Eisenhauer, many of those soldiers suffer from depression, PTSD and other mental health problems brought on by the stresses of war and multiple deployments.
Fayetteville police Sgt. Steven Bates said he has seen the increase in violence firsthand.The entire article is worth the read. Here at my agency, we're right next to Fort Hood and regularly deal with combat veterans occasionally even the ones who have significant issues. But even if the nearest military base is hundreds of miles away from your jurisdiction, your agency is going to probably end up dealing with the minority of these vets who enter the criminal justice system at some point. I'm hoping that DOJ will fund this type of training for law enforcement agencies across the U.S.
"Absolutely," said Bates, who was a negotiator during the standoff with Eisenhauer. "It stands to reason. It's a statistical fact."
