Crisis Intervention training expands after police officer and Fort Hood solider shot and killed

Bell County: Increase In Standoffs Catalyst For Proposed Crisis Team
Our Town Texas
By: Rachel Cox

BELL COUNTY (July 22, 2013)—An increase in police standoffs in Bell County is the catalyst for an effort to create a crisis intervention team that would deal with suspects with possible mental issues.

"We are looking at a possible grant working with MHMR to create a crisis intervention team here in the county which would entail a sergeant and four or five trained deputies that deal with mental cases," Bell County Sheriff Eddy Lange said Monday.

At least five standoffs this year have happened in Killeen, and on July 14, one ended with the shooting death of police Officer Robert "Bobby" Hornsby, 32.

Fort Hood Pfc. Dustin Billy Cole was shot and killed after he opened fire with an AK47 on Hornsby and Officer Juan E. Obregon, Jr., who was wounded.

The two SWAT team members had responded to a standoff involving Cole at a Killeen apartment complex.

"You have to learn how to control your fear but enhance your caution and this brings it all back to reality that we're all out there trying to do the best job we can and bad things can happen to officers, this is just one of those tragic situations and I knew the family personally and again my prayers just go out to the family; it's tough, it's tough for the whole community," Lange said.
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