The DETER project first received funding in 2021. After proving to be a successful program, it has earned more funding.
The University of Tennessee-Martin first introduced its DETER (De-Escalation Techniques and Emergency Responses) project in its Criminal Justice program two years ago after earning $547,000 in grant funding from the US Department of Agriculture Delta Health Care Services.
The purpose of DETER is to develop de-escalation techniques and then train first responders to act accordingly in emergency situations. There are now requirements in Tennessee that police officers in the state must receive this type of training.
The first round of grant funding for the program established the Lawrence D. Bromley Training Center in downtown Martin, as well as purchased a simulator that runs through use-of-force scenarios.
This new round of funding, which has given the Criminal Justice program more than $400,000 to continue expanding and bettering the DETER program, will go toward hiring graduate assistants and interns.
According to an article on The University of Tennessee Martin’s website, Dr. Brian Donavant, who is a professor of Criminal Justice at the school, discussed the success of the program and what it has been able to accomplish so far: “In Phase I, we trained almost 1,500 folks, so it was very successful. Our goal was to train 700, so there is a need for it; people are really hungry for this kind of training,” he said.
Dr. Donavant also explained that the training is free for police officers, social workers, and other crisis intervention specialists. The program will also teach members of the public how to handle situations in which there are police officers present in order to keep themselves safe.
Along with this renewal of funding, the DETER program will be expanded into the Delta region, with areas like southeast Missouri and western Kentucky included in its reach. The newly funded positions of graduate assistants and interns will be paramount in outreach and communication with the organizations in need of DETER training.
In addition to the grant funding, money for DETER is coming in through other avenues. “The university is making an investment in this as well. Not only through direct funding, but through support resources that amount to about $1.6 million. So, the total worth of the project thus far is more than $2 million, through the support of the university, support from the city of Martin, Jackson State Community College and Carey Counseling Center Inc.,” said Donavant.
Donavant drew on his own experience in law enforcement to describe the need for the DETER program. He said, “Yes, police sometimes are in situations where they need to use force, but many times, there are other things we can do to resolve situations, and even if we do have to use force, many times, we can use lower levels of force if we learn how to better interact with the folks we’re dealing with.”
One of the main goals of the program is to ensure safety. “The goal here is for everybody to go home safely, and when I say, ‘go home,’ that means ‘get away from that situation.’ Sometimes, ‘home,’ for a short period of time, is still in jail, but at least, we want them to go there safely,” said Donavant.
For more information about The University of Tennessee-Martin, visit the school’s website.