Murfreesboro Police receives NAMI Tennessee Criminal Justice Award

Sep 25, 2020 at 07:00 am by Voice Wire


The National Alliance on Mental Illness Tennessee (NAMI Tennessee), a member of the largest grassroots mental health organization, names the Murfreesboro Police Department (MPD) and Chief of Police Michael Bowen as one of two recipients of the 2020 Criminal Justice Award.    

The Criminal Justice Award recognizes the criminal justice professional or program that most exemplifies the de-escalation and diversion approach promoted by NAMI for persons with mental illness who become involved in the criminal justice system. (Including law enforcement, justice, corrections, and other professionals in the criminal justice system.)

The award was presented at NAMI Tennessee 34th Annual State Virtual Convention Thursday afternoon, Sept. 24. 

Twice a year, MPD hosts a 40-hour Crisis Invention Training (CIT) Course where a significant number of MPD officers and Murfreesboro Emergency Communications Telecommunicators receive certification in CIT training. 

The NAMI Tennessee Awards Committee chose the Murfreesboro Police Department for the award because of its commitment to mental health:

This award is in honor of Tennessee’s own Major Sam Cochran (ret.), father of the internationally recognized CIT program, the Memphis Police Department, and NAMI Memphis.

Madison County, Tennessee Sheriff John Mehr is the other 2020 NAMI Tennessee Criminal Justice Award recipient.

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