Ernest Stevens Email & Phone Number

Remote

As deputy division director of law enforcement for the Council of State Governments, I am responsible for overseeing and growing the division’s portfolio of work focused on improving outcomes for people with behavioral health conditions and homelessness who encounter law enforcement. Lead, grow, and implement new initiatives to assist communities to improve law enforcement and crisis responses to people with behavioral health needs and people experiencing homelessness. Serve as an agencywide subject matter expert and advisor on issues related to law enforcement, particularly the intersection of law enforcement and behavioral health and homelessness.• Directly provide on-site and off-site training and technical assistance (TTA) to a cohort of behavioral health and law enforcement grantees and their partners from across the country and provide direction to a team of TTA coaches.• Develop and guide the development of a range of policy briefs, webinars, and other publications and tools to support best practices nationally.• Lead policy-focused meetings of high-ranking police officers, police departments, behavioral health providers, government officials, policymakers, and national experts.• Work with division and agency leadership to fundraise for new and ongoing work for the law enforcement team.• Lead fundraising to support existing work and expand new work, develop a strategic vision, and liaise with funders.• Supervise and provide guidance and direction to the law enforcement team within the Behavioral Health Division.

San Antonio, Tx

Development of resources to respond to the community gap for alternative response options. Ensure that certain 911 calls with behavioral healthcare are responded to appropriately, follow up and crisis intervention for repetitive encounters, address staffing models budget and training, and introduce evidence-based practices across the nation. Provide support and training for multidisciplinary alternative response teams. Build and maintain relationships with first responder agencies, facilitate organization and resource teams to include trauma prepared mental health professionals as needed for the region. Recruit and coordinate regional and national subject matter expert’s in Resiliency for annual STRAC emergency healthcare conference.

Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, United States

Instructor at Joint Base San Antonio Lackland AFB. I currently instruct block 6 for the “C” school law enforcement portion of the training at the Naval Technical School for Naval Security Police.

San Antonio, Texas, United States

Served in the ranks of patrol and then became a field training officer. Spent 3 years on the DWI Task Force. Was one of the founding members of the Tactical Response Team. Founder of the Department's Mental Health Unit. Received recognition as 2X Community Champion Award, Life saving award presented by the Mayor of San Antonio. Awards presented by Mothers Against Drunk Drivers Enforcement Hero's Award, US Marshall's Operation Blue Falcon. Awarded the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Law and Public Policy Innovator for 2020.

San Antonio, Texas, United States

Uniformed patrol officer and Investigator. Responded to calls for service, enforced traffic laws, and processed crime scenes. Received a life saving award for using CPR on a heart attack patient.