In Memoriam: Dr. James J. Fyfe
Dr. James J. Fyfe, the deputy commissioner for training at the New York City Police Department, died of cancer at the age of 63.
Dr. Fyfe was a nationally recognized expert on the use of force by the police. Under his leadership, the NYPD revamped the police academy curriculum in response to a "white paper" co-authored by People, Inc., NAMI NYC-Metro, the Urban Justice Center and the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law and other advocates that dealt with the treatment of "emotionally disturbed persons" by the NYPD.
As a professional educator and police officer who understood the difficult issues involved in police interactions with people suffering from mental illness, Dr. Fyfe brought a fair-minded approach to his work. Under his leadership, the NYPD jointly established a police mental health advisory committee with the New York City Division of Mental Hygiene, which consisted of representatives from city government, medical professionals and advocates from the mental health community. He will be greatly missed as a man of intelligence, integrity and action.