Northwest Crisis Training
Northwest Crisis Training was created after over two decades of experience and training by Patrick Fudally. His work through private security, as a member of the United States Marine Corps (USMC), working through two degrees and his nearly 15 years as a law enforcement officer culminated in being certified in Edgework Methodology in the spring of 2021.
Patrick started as a security officer while working his way through college earning a degree in criminal justice. Shortly after he left to become a member of the USMC serving for five years, including a tour in Iraq. After leaving the Marines he took a job at a hospital as a security officer. There he learned not only workplace safety in a healthcare setting but also, unofficially, verbal de-escalation techniques for those in crisis, in particular, sick patients, and their concerned family members.
In late 2006, he began his career as a police officer. Crisis Intervention training was just starting to take hold in law enforcement. Patrick saw a gap between the methods taught in the academy and ongoing instruction for veteran officers. He attended his first full 40-hour Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) class; he had to sleep on a relative’s couch while at the training, as his department could not afford to send him to the class. In that first class Patrick was introduced to Ellis Amdur, the creator and author of many books revolving around Edgework Methodology.
He was hooked by not only the simplicity of the material, but the effectiveness of the techniques in the real world. In 2012 Patrick became the first CIT instructor in his department’s history. This eventually led to a robust CIT program within his department, which far exceeds the state mandates.
In 2015, in collaboration with the local fire and aid service, Patrick co-developed a joint response to subjects in extreme crisis. This protocol was aimed at addressing the number of serious injuries and deaths occurring to officers and others due to prolonged physical interactions with people who had dangerous and unknown underlying complications.
Throughout this period Patrick was asked to teach at various organizations, including individual businesses, business associations, churches, and to library employees and other city employees.
In early 2020 Patrick saw a shift in the cultural expectations of businesses who were trying to handle subjects in crisis instead of just calling 911. This well-intentioned shift saw employees being asked to interact with and de-escalate volatile individuals often with little to no training. While working through his bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership Patrick came to full appreciate what everyone already knows, employees are more productive and happier when they feel SAFE at work.
In addition, the rise of over consumption of alcohol or illegal substances, along with an increase in mental health issues has resulted in the average person becoming far more likely to interact with a person in crisis in their daily lives. Patrick, through NW Crisis Training, is motivated to arm all individuals with the skills to address these situations whether they are at work, home or out in public.