Troubled vets pose problem for police

Troubled vets pose problem for police
By HOWARD ALTMAN
The Tampa Tribune
Published: October 10, 2012
TAMPA
Police Cpl. Steve Cragg knows well the dangers officers can face when coming upon an armed veteran. Three years ago, good friend Cpl. Mike Roberts was gunned down by Humberto Delgado, a former soldier.

And almost exactly a year ago, Cragg arrived at the scene where a former Marine with post-traumatic stress disorder shot a Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office deputy.

"Those two situations are always on my mind," Cragg said.

As a hostage negotiator, Cragg has helped defuse numerous standoffs, from people with guns holed up in houses to people waving knives in the streets. But he says one of his biggest fears is coming upon an armed veteran.

The challenge of confronting someone who might be unresponsive to typical negotiating strategies and well-trained in combat tactics "muddies the water when you are dealing with someone," Cragg said.

For police, it is a concern that is only going to increase. Nearly a half-million troops who served in Afghanistan or Iraq may have post-traumatic stress disorder, based on a 2008 Rand Corp. study.

With that in mind, Cragg in March enrolled in a unique course, conceived by a special forces soldier from Tampa, that teaches law enforcement officers how to more safely approach veterans in crisis. Since it was first offered in January 2011, nearly 100 law enforcement officers across the country have taken the course.

Cragg said that even after eight years as a negotiator and his own experience as a soldier, the course, "Law Enforcement Tools For Supporting Veterans in Transition," opened his eyes.
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