What happens when police officers are trained to see the person before the crisis?
In this episode of The DOHP Signal, Derek O. Hanley sits down with Ernie Stevens, featured in HBO's award-winning documentary Ernie & Joe: Crisis Cops, to discuss the evolution of crisis intervention policing and the lessons learned from decades of responding to people experiencing mental health emergencies.
The conversation explores the origins of San Antonio's Mental Health Unit, the making of the documentary, stories from the street, leadership under pressure, officer wellness, and why empathy remains one of the most effective tools in public safety.
Whether you work in law enforcement, EMS, behavioral health, or simply care about improving how communities respond to people in crisis, this conversation offers thoughtful insight into one of the most important shifts occurring in modern public safety.
Connect with today's guest:
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Ernie's Website: https://erneststevens.com/
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ernest-stevens-b4234a1b6/
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Film Website: https://ernieandjoethefilm.com/
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Watch on HBO: https://www.hbomax.com/movies/ernie-joe-crisis-cops/4c66297a-a71a-4c82-88f8-3bfec0d1b1be
Connect with DOHP:
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Website: https://dohp.net
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thatsDOHP
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatsdoh
If you enjoyed this conversation, consider following The DOHP Signal on your preferred podcast platform and sharing this episode with someone who would find it valuable. New conversations are released regularly.
About The DOHP Signal
The DOHP Signal is a long-form conversation platform exploring operational life, leadership, authenticity, systems, storytelling, and meaningful work. Host Derek O. Hanley sits down with founders, educators, first responders, veterans, creatives, and leaders to uncover the experiences and ideas that shape how people build trust, navigate complexity, and perform under pressure.
Signal over noise.
Learn more about DOHP, embedded visual storytelling, educational resources, photography, books, and media projects at https://dohp.net