City of Highland Park Police Department Certified by the International Association of Chiefs of Police as a “One Mind Community”
Recognition follows training, community partnership best practice initiatives
June 21, 2021 – The City of Highland Park is pleased to announce that the Highland Park Police Department has met all requirements for certification as a One Mind Community, indicative of the Police Department’s commitment to serving Highland Park residents in an effective and compassionate manner, especially those suffering from mental illness. An initiative of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), One Mind Community certification requires departments to implement best practices in officer training, policy administration, and community engagement. One Mind Communities are well-positioned to support a wide range of needs by creating an effective framework to respond to situations where mental illness might be a complicating factor.
To achieve certification, Highland Park Police exceeded training requirements, with all sworn officers (and select non-sworn staff) trained in Mental Health First Aid and 75% of sworn officers completing intensive Crisis Intervention Training (CIT). CIT is only available to officers who have completed at least two years of service, and its 40-hour curriculum trains officers to respond to calls involving individuals with mental health issues and intellectual disabilities, as well as those who are in crisis, with de-escalation strategies practiced during live role-play scenarios.
“The One Mind Campaign aligns with the Police Department’s commitment to the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police/NAACP Ten Shared Principles of Law Enforcement,” said Chief of Police Lou Jogmen. “The Ten Shared Principles are fundamental to Highland Park’s community-based policing model, and they affirm our core values to treat individuals with dignity and respect. One Mind certification positions our department members to have a positive impact on individuals and families who are dealing with mental health issues.”
In addition, the Highland Park Police Department formalized and enhanced its partnership with NorthShore Highland Park Hospital and implemented policies addressing the response of law enforcement to individuals with mental illness and those in crisis.
“Attaining One Mind Community certification speaks to the dedication of the Highland Park Police Department in implementing sound policies and thorough training that truly inspire community confidence,” said Mayor Nancy Rotering. “The Campaign’s focus on strong partnerships underscores the need for collaboration between local government, service-based organizations, and residents to effectively support vulnerable members of our community, and we truly appreciate the continued partnership of NorthShore Highland Park Hospital.”
Led by the Police Department’s efforts, the City of Highland Park as a whole has taken additional measures to continue to provide exceptional and responsive service to at-risk residents. The City has embedded social work services within two departments: a full-time, contracted social worker based at the Police Department, assisting officers and residents as appropriate with a variety of service calls, and a full-time social worker on staff at the Highland Park Senior Center, focused on the needs of Highland Park’s senior population.
The City continues to pursue opportunities for collaboration with other governments and community service providers assisting those in crisis situations, such as Moraine and West Deerfield Townships, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office, the North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic, and United Way of Lake County. In 2020, the City was recognized as a Dementia-Friendly Community with staff members across all six City departments and members of the City Council completing training to support residents impacted by memory loss.
Further information about the City of Highland Park Police Department is available at cityhpil.com/police. Detailed information about the City’s ongoing work regarding diversity, equity, inclusion, and just policing is available at cityhpil.com/diversity. Learn more about the One Mind Campaign at theiacp.org/projects/one-mind-campaign.