OF 132 U.S. OFFICERS KILLED IN 1974, 29 DIED RESPONDING TO DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE CALLS. CRISIS INTERVENTION IS A PROBLEM WITH WHICH MOST POLICE OFFICERS AR FACED ON A DAILY BASIS. THE POLICE FEEL DISSATISFIED AND FRUSTRATED BECAUSE OF THE GREAT AMOUNT OF TIME SPENT ON DOMESTIC CALLS WITHOUT HELPING THE DISPUTANTS FIND A SOLUTION. POLICE OFFICERS MUST BE TRAINED IN CRISIS INTERVENTION SO THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH THESE PROBLEMS QUICKLY AND EFFICIENTLY. THEREFORE, THE SAN JOSE POLICE DEPARTMENT BEGAN CONSIDERING TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR THEIR OFFICERS. IT HAD THREE CHOICES TO CONSIDER -- TRAINING SOME CRISIS INTERVENTION SPECIALISTS, TRAINING THE ENTIRE POLICE FORCE, OR DEVELOPING A FAMILY CRISIS INTERVENTION PROGRAM WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT. IT WAS DECIDED NOT TO TRAIN A GROUP OF SPECIALISTS BECAUSE ALL POLICE OFFICERS ARE CALLED ON TO HANDLE DOMESTIC DISPUTES. THE INTERVENTION PROGRAM WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT WAS ALSO REJECTED BECAUSE OF THE EXPENSES INVOLVED. THEIR FINAL CHOICE WAS TO TRAIN THE ENTIRE FORCE. THIS PLAN WAS MODIFIED TO REDUCE THE COSTS. EIGHT OFFICERS, SIX FROM SAN JOSE AND TWO FROM SANTA CLARA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, WERE CHOSEN TO BE TRAINED AS INSTRUCTORS. THE TRAINING PROGRAM CONSISTED OF 40 HOURS OF PROCEDURALLY ORIENTED INSTRUCTION, WHICH WAS DIVIDED INTO OFFICER SAFETY, DEFUSING, BRIEF INTERVIEWING, MEDIATION, REFERRAL, CULTURAL ISSUES, LEGAL ISSUES, AND CONSOLIDATION. CLASS TIME WAS SPENT ON DEMONSTRATIONS AND PRACTICE, USING VIDEO TAPES FOR BOTH. THE COURSE CURRICULUM WAS SLIGHTLY MODIFIED TO FIT THE NEEDS OF THE SAN JOSE POLICE. VIDEO TAPE TRAINING FILMS WERE MADE FOR USE WHEN THE NEW INSTRUCTORS WENT BACK TO TRAIN THE REST OF THE FORCE. THE OFFICERS RETURNED TO THEIR FORCES AND SPENT THE 16 MONTHS TRAINING NEARLY ALL OF THE OFFICERS AND PATROL SERGEANTS. THIS PROGRAM HAS WORKED QUITE WELL, BOTH FOR THE INSTRUCTORS AND THE PATROL OFFICERS. ALL EVALUATIONS OF THE PROGRAM HAVE SHOWN POSITIVE RESULTS. NOW, THE SAN JOSE POLICE ARE NO LONGER DEPENDENT ON OUTSIDE CONSULTANTS IN THIS AREA. OTHER AGENICES IN THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES HAVE SENT PEOPLE TO THE SAN JOSE POLICE FOR TRAINING IN CRISIS INTERVENTION. THE INSTRUCTOR TRAINING MODEL HAS SUGGESTED OTHER POSSIBILITIES AS WELL; E.G., THE USE OF SIMILAR PROGRAMS IN DEALING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS, DRUG PROBLEMS, ALCOHOLISM, AND JUVENILES. (BAC)