When Denver police officer Micheal Morelock responded to a welfare check called in by a concerned husband unable to reach his wife, he found the woman writing farewell letters to her family in the basement of their home.

She told the officer that she had been preparing to end her life, overwhelmed with emotional distress.

Recognizing her crisis, Morelock spoke with her calmly and took time to understand her story.

During their conversation, the two found many similarities with each other including their past military service and families. They spoke about the value of life, including her own.

With her consent, Morelock then transported her to a local hospital for evaluation and support.

Afterward, the woman reached out to the police department to thank Morelock, saying that she “would not be here today had it not been for his compassion and dedication to being a protector of our community.”

The woman also stated that she intended to continue to use professional mental health resources going forward.

Morelock was one of 10 Denver police officers and one co-responding clinician to be recognized Tuesday for their application of crisis intervention team training to de-escalate a mental health crisis in the community.

The National Alliance for Mental Illness Denver hosted its annual award ceremony for DPD officers who have used crisis intervention team training effectively in their work.

NAMI Denver President Erica Witherspoon presented the awards.

“Not every emergency involves a crime, sometimes it’s a moment of deep human vulnerability,” she said.

Crisis intervention team training stems from a partnership between NAMI, family members of mentally disabled young people, and Memphis police in the late 1980s. Police officers involved found that understanding the behaviors of those with mental illness made it easier to help them when called upon.

The training emphasizes de-escalation techniques and compassion by responding officers and may involve collaboration with mental health professionals.

A few years after its inception in Memphis, the Denver Police Department adopted the concept and training program.

Morelock described how CIT training not only teaches officers to recognize the signs of emotional distress and illness, but practice responding to them in real time.

“The scenarios I think are very crucial with helping the officers (respond to) a situation, and they make it very realistic so that we can use it,” he said.

Officers Celia Munoz and Andrew James were also recognized at the event for their joint effort in responding to a suicidal individual.

“It’s a large amount of training that we go through,” said Munoz.

James spoke about how the approach goes beyond the bounds of other calls.

“We really do make a very concerted effort to make sure that person has not just the resources they need that the city can provide, but sometimes its emotional support in the way of words,” said James. “I think CIT is really good for helping with those skills.”

DPD’s outreach case coordinator program works to connect people experiencing distress or behavioral health concerns with resources.

A clinical co-responder may accompany a police officer to the scene when there are reports of threats or weapons.

Denver’s support team assisted response (STAR) program is an alternative response team that includes behavioral health clinicians and paramedics. STAR can respond for individuals experiencing mental health distress and substance use disorders when there are not reported threats or weapons.

“I think Denver is a great representation of what a really good supportive program looks like,” said Witherspoon.

NAMI is also working to develop its “In Our Own Voice” program, which connects speakers living with mental illness to community members to try to fight the stigma.

“The opportunity there is to see people that aren’t in a crisis situation. They’re able to answer questions and also talk about what the experience is like from a first-hand perspective,” said Witherspoon.

As for Morelock, he reflected on his experience with the woman he aided.

“I’m very happy that I was the one that God picked at that moment to put in front of her, and I was able to say the right things to help save her life and turn it around,” he said.