Isensee Foundation for Safe Police Response

09/15/2025

A new Texas law changes how law enforcement can respond to some mentally ill people. ABC 13 reporter Jessica Willey recently interviewed me (Ted Isensee) and others about whether we supported the bill or not.

Senate Bill 1164 allows officers to detain someone experiencing a mental health crisis, even if they pose no immediate threat, but not everyone sees the law as progress.

05/14/2025

https://www.namiwalks.org/participant/Ted-Isensee I am raising funds to support mental health initiatives. How? By supporting NAMI's annual walk in Houston this Saturday May 17. Please help us raise funds through walking or just donating what you can. You can literally help save lives by doing so.

To provide law enforcement and professionals with training, techniques and equipment that will increase their ability to de-escalate mental health crises.

03/22/2025

Board members of our Isensee Fdn for Safe Police Response will be attending the Texas CIT (Crisis Intervention Training) conference in San Marcos in April. I will be speaking there this year and we will also have an exhibit booth.

If you would like to support our work there and elsewhere you can make a donation at www.safepoliceresponse.org/donate and/or buy a copy of my book "From Grief to Advocacy" on Amazon. All proceeds go to our foundation and its mission.

Thanks for anything you can do, including sharing this post.

Ted Isensee

01/29/2025

The first responders honored at this event set a great example for others!

01/27/2025

Officers from the Houston Police Department, Fort Bend County and Montgomery County, as well as other first responders such as firefighters from the same areas were honored for excellent service at the "Heroes for Hope" luncheon last week. The event was organized by NAMI Greater Houston and supported by IFSPR and other donors. It was a great event, with Art Rascon as our emcee, and comments by Garnet Coleman and other speakers. Angelina Hudson, CEO of NAMI GH, is in blue next to the flag.

09/01/2024

Dick Bartell was a good friend and a founding board member of the Isensee Foundation for Safe Police Response. He served on the board for several years and he helped us in many ways during our early years. We met through Unity of Houston's couples club and he and his very significant other - India - brought their vibrant and sociable graces and energy to many events at Unity and with our nonprofit organization. We will long remember and treasure his memory, and express our condolences to India and all of Dick's family.

View Richard Bartell's obituary, send flowers and sign the guestbook.

07/14/2024

We will hear many points of view in the wake of the assassination attempt against former President Trump. One of my many thoughts is that anyone who attempts an assassination in a democratic country is attempting to deprive citizens of a vote. They are among other things being highly arrogant in taking away our right to vote. They also endanger the lives of people around their target and in this case did kill another person and critically wounded 2 other people in addition to wounding Trump.

This incident is also a reminder that extreme rhetoric by politicians, citizens and the media can motivate some unbalanced people to violence. May we all remember that. Our words matter. Let us choose them wisely.

04/20/2024

Check out our innaugaral "Peace Police" podcast episode including a debrief of the Foundation's attendance at the Texas CIT Conference!

Isensee Foundation for Safe Police Respone innaugaral podcast discusses 10th annual Texas Crisis Intervention Team Conference among other topics related to mental health especially regarding deescalation of mental health crises.

02/29/2024

I am on the board of Compassionate Houston and invite you to attend or support our annual luncheon on March 22 at the Junior League in Houston.
https://www.compassionatehouston.org/luncheon-2024

Early bird tickets are just $99 but that ends today so it's a word to the wise.

It will be a fun event and a great way to meet and mingle with wonderful people who are working to make Houston a evcen better place to live and work.

Spring Luncheon 2024 “Sowing Seeds of Compassion”

02/22/2024

We are headed to the Texas CIT (Crisis Intervention Training) conference in April! We will have an exhibition there and will be selling copies of our book "From Grief to Advocacy" and handing out resources for law enforcement and mental health professionals and advocates. If you would like to help fund our trip and work there, you can donate at safepoliceresponse.org

https://cvent.me/0PxR0e?sms=7&cn=2BbE7qCHSpCf1vHz3yPUVg

To promote and facilitate safe responses to mental health crises by and for all concerned.

02/22/2024

A recent walk in the woods caused me to reflect on nature's place in my heart and soul, and inspired this poem below...

"The city is pretty, flashing and dashing.
It’s also replete with steel and concrete.

But to be happy my feet
Must trounce twigs, kick rocks, take off socks
To feel a running stream on my toes.

I need to see trees, trails and animal tails.
I have to hear leaves rustling and bees hustling.

My nose has to sniff flowers at all hours
With the sounds of birds singing ringing in my ears.

The wind on my face and the sun on my back
Allay my fears
And restore what I lack

They fortify me for a new attack
On the strife I face
In this race we call life."

02/15/2024

Our new banner for promoting my new book at conferences...

To promote and facilitate safe responses to mental health crises by and for all concerned.