How A Police Mental Health Unit De-Escalates Chaos

Send us Fan MailA “mental health call” rarely looks like a calm conversation in a quiet office. It looks like uncertainty, pressure, split-second decisions, and a room full of risk factors that do not fit neatly into a checklist. I sit down with Joe Smarro, former Marine and former San Antonio Police Department officer who spent 11 years full-time on a mental health unit, to unpack what actually works when the goal is simple and urgent: keep everyone safe and lower the temperature fast. Joe shares how Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) changed the way he saw policing, why de-escalation and communication skills matter as much as tactics, and what happens when departments move from a small voluntary approach to broader training expectations. We also talk about the real stigma that shows up inside agencies, including the “hug-a-thug” pushback that often greets jail diversion and mental health initiatives, and why many of the loudest critics have personal stories they have never been given space to name. We go deeper into the intersection of public safety and behavioral health care. Joe explains why sending clinicians alone to volatile crises can create safety problems when scenes involve drugs, co-occurring disorders, and unpredictable behavior, and why the better answer is collaboration with clear lanes. Along the way, we connect this work to leadership in the private sector, challenging belief systems, and Joe’s core principle of radical ownership, because resilience is not just about surviving hard moments, it is about choosing what you do next. If you care about first responder mental health, police de-escalation, crisis response, and practical leadership under stress, hit play, then subscribe, share this with someone on your team, and leave a review so more people can find the show.To follow or reach Joe, here are his links: https://solutionpointplus.com/https://joesmarro.com/https://www.instagram.com/joesmarrohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/joesmarro/His book can be purchased here: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=joe+smarro+book&adgrpid=189489075594&hvadid=779590058605&hvdev=c&hvexpln=0&hvlocphy=9001838&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=11939440335994543591--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=11939440335994543591&hvtargid=kwd-2672616687752&hydadcr=22534_13730692_8442&mcid=210f362e2b1a34d4afd3b1dab807f421&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_1i3b43osek_eDeemedFit: First Responder OwnedWe are a first responder owned company looking to get first responders in the best mental shape.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showYouTube Channel For The Podcast