Program teaches police officers discretion

Article of Interest

Program teaches police officers discretion
by Frank DeFrank, Macomb Daily News, August 1, 2002

While a patrol officer in Warren several years ago, Shelby Township police Chief Robert Leman responded to a complaint about a man mowing his lawn -- at night. The man ignored repeated shouts from the officers and went about his business as if they weren't there.

Leman and his partner made an obvious assumption.

"We thought he was drunk," Shelby's top cop said.

The officers were wrong. But before anything unfortunate happened, they realized the man was neither drunk nor belligerent. He was deaf.

"We figured it out," Leman said.

Because of that memory and other stories that didn't have such benign endings, Leman was more than attentive when Officer Carolyn Gammicchia approached him with plans to implement something called the Law Enforcement Awareness Network.

The title is simply a fancy name for a program that trains police officers to recognize that they must respond differently to some people with whom they come into contact.

"It trains first responders (emergency personnel) to deal with (people with) mental illness or hidden disabilities," Leman said. "It teaches them to recognize (such afflictions)."

In Detroit a few years ago, a man did not respond to orders by police to put down a rake. He was shot when officers thought he was about to use the rake as a weapon. The officers did not realize the man was deaf.

LEAN training is designed to prevent such occurrences, Leman said.

Gammicchia and her husband, Andrew, also a Shelby Township police officer, are parents of an autistic child.

Their personal situation helped them "recognize the need," said township Supervisor Ralph Maccarone.

Gammicchia could not be reached for comment, but Leman credited her with pushing for the program.

"It showed some initiative on her part," the chief said.

The Shelby Township Community Foundation awarded the police department $1,300 to implement LEAN training. Leman said the training will include videos and literature.

The grant was one of 11 totaling more than $13,000 handed out recently by the Shelby Community Foundation and is part of the funds the organization received from the state's Tobacco Settlement Revenue fund.

Other grants went to service organizations and churches and schools that offer programs to promote the health of youth and seniors.

"Our grant-making is designed to give back to our community," said Linda Stout, foundation chairwoman. "We are pleased to provide these funds to make a difference for the people these organizations serve."

Maccarone praised the organization for its efforts to improve the quality of life for Shelby Township residents.

"(The foundation) is one of things that makes Shelby a great place to live," he said.

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