Our speaker will be John Costa who has an extensive background in law enforcement, police training and public education. After completing a 31-year career with the Palo Alto Police Department, John retired honorably at the supervisory rank of sergeant in 2009. During that time he was assigned to and supervised a myriad of specialized assignments.
Since then, John has remained active in the field of police training and public education. Currently he serves as an adjunct professor at West Valley College, as well as a law enforce- ment liaison and consultant for Santa Clara County Behavioral Health Services.
John will be offering us a glimpse into one of his primary tasks in his role as a liaison for the Interactive Video Simulation Training. This training has been delivered to thousands of peace officers statewide, seeking to increase their abil- ity to recognize, respect and interact effectively with people experiencing a mental health crisis. Learn how to de-escalate and improve challeng- ing interactions with individuals with mental health challenges in the community to ensure the safety and dignity of all involved.
