Smarter Crisis Response: Free SUNY/CUNY Psychology Classes for Police — Integrated with Peer Support & Clinical Teams | JSA2026

JSA2026 • Public Safety & Education

Smarter Crisis Response: Free SUNY/CUNY Psychology Classes for Police

Date: August 11, 2025 • Contact: (516) 586‑0660 • 204 Airport Plaza #1081, Farmingdale, NY 11735

As Governor, I will launch a statewide program that gives every active New York police officer free access to psychology and behavioral‑health coursework at all SUNY and CUNY schools—paired with peer‑support funding and formal cross‑training with mental‑health professionals. This plan strengthens officer decision‑making, improves de‑escalation, and delivers safer outcomes without defunding.

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Jump to SummaryFAQ

Executive Summary

• What: 100% tuition coverage for approved SUNY/CUNY psychology, counseling, and behavioral science courses for all active NY police officers.
• How it fits: We align with peer‑support programs (e.g., first‑responder peer models) and add required cross‑training with licensed clinicians.
• Why: Better recognition of mental‑health cues, stronger communication in the field, fewer escalations, and healthier officers.
• Cost control: Use state training funds, tuition waivers, targeted grants, and departmental CE credits; measure ROI via reduced incidents and claims.

Build on What Works: Peer‑Support ➜ Academic Track

Peer‑support helps first responders after traumatic calls. We extend that success with an academic track:

• Credit Ladder: Peer‑support training can convert to SUNY/CUNY elective credit toward a certificate or degree.
• Course Menu: Abnormal psychology, crisis communication, addiction & recovery, suicide prevention, developmental psychology, trauma‑informed policing.
• Flexible Access: In‑person, online, and hybrid, scheduled around shift work.

Coordinate with Clinicians, Not Replace Them

The plan formalizes a two‑lane response:

• Police First Contact: Officers trained to recognize behavioral health red flags and stabilize the scene.
• Clinical Handoff: Clear protocols for warm handoffs to licensed mental‑health professionals or co‑response teams.
• Shared Language: Coursework ensures officers understand the terminology and interventions clinicians use.

Eligibility & Benefits

• Eligible: All active NYS, county, and municipal police; probationary officers become eligible after academy graduation.
• Coverage: Tuition and mandatory fees for approved courses; textbooks and materials covered where possible via campus grants.
• Career Pathways: Credits may count toward certificates, associate’s, bachelor’s, or master’s degrees; recognized within departmental CE and promotion matrices.
• Wellness: Confidential counseling access and peer‑support groups continue in parallel.

Implementation Plan

1. Governor’s Directive: Issue an executive program order establishing the “Police Behavioral Health Education Initiative” and a one‑stop state coordinator.
2. SUNY/CUNY Partnership: Create a Police Scholar tuition‑waiver and seat‑priority policy; align micro‑credentials for quick wins.
3. Peer‑Support Link: Allow certified peer‑support training hours to articulate as elective credits; fund peer‑support coordinators in each region.
4. Cross‑Training MOUs: Regional agreements between departments and licensed providers to run quarterly tabletop exercises and ride‑along exchanges.
5. Scheduling: Offer evening/weekend cohorts and condensed terms that fit 4‑on/3‑off and overnight shifts.
6. Data & Dashboards: Track participation, course completion, complaints, use‑of‑force incidents, EDP (emotionally disturbed person) outcomes, officer injury and time‑off trends.

Funding & Ratepayer Protection

• State Training Funds: Public safety and workforce‑development lines cover tuition waivers at public institutions.
• Grants: Tap federal/state mental‑health and crisis‑response grants; prioritize high‑need precincts.
• Cost Controls: Cohort pricing, online scale, and course standardization; scholarships targeted to courses with the most field impact.
• Return on Investment: Fewer escalations and lawsuits, lower workers’ comp and overtime from injuries, improved retention.

Metrics that Matter

• ↓ Use‑of‑force incidents on EDP calls (year‑over‑year, per‑capita)
• ↓ Civil claims and settlements linked to crisis calls
• ↓ Officer injury and lost‑time rates
• ↑ Clearance rates and successful clinical handoffs
• ↑ Officer retention and promotion among program graduates
• ↑ Community satisfaction (quarterly surveys)

Authority & Governance

• Executive Action: Program launch via executive authority for state training initiatives at public institutions.
• Legislative Support: Codify tuition waivers, credit articulation, and cross‑training standards; appropriate grant lines for peer‑support coordinators and campus seats.
• Local Control: Departments retain command authority; participation counts toward CE requirements set by DCJS and local policy.

Timeline

• First 100 Days: Sign MOUs with SUNY/CUNY; launch pilot cohorts in 4 regions; publish the course catalog.
• Year 1: Statewide expansion; cross‑training drills begin; peer‑support credit policy live.
• Year 2–3: Full enrollment access; annual public dashboard; refine the curriculum to field results.

FAQ

Is this “defund” by another name?

No. This strengthens policing with better training, clearer clinical handoffs, and sustained wellness support.

Are officers replacing therapists?

Absolutely not. Officers get enough psychology to recognize risks, communicate, and stabilize scenes—then hand off to licensed professionals.

Will this burden officers with extra hours?

Cohorts are built around shift work with online and condensed options; departments may grant CE time for high‑impact courses.

Bottom line: Train officers, empower clinicians, and connect the two. That’s how New York saves lives and restores trust.

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#JSA2026 #NYGovernor #BackTheBlue #PublicSafety #MentalHealth #SUNY #CUNY

Jason S. Arnold for Governor, 2026 • JSA2026.com • (516) 586‑0660 • 204 Airport Plaza #1081, Farmingdale, NY 11735

“I’m not a good candidate, I’m the right one.” • Paid for by JSA2026.