Photo: Matthew Busch
"Captivating ... 10 out 10 stars"
FILM THREAT
"a shockingly emotional and human look at a new kind of police force"
GLIDE MAGAZINE
"Impressively intimate ... Riveting"
VARIETY
"moving in its humanity and forceful in its pragmatism"
LA TIMES
"Offers Hope for a Troubled World"
FILM FESTIVAL TODAY
"McShane’s film should be required viewing in all police academies."
NEW YORK TIMES
Ernie & Joe: Crisis Cops follows two police officers with the San Antonio Texas Police Department who are diverting people away from jail and into mental health treatment, one 911 call at a time.
ABOUT
ERNIE & JOE: CRISIS COPS is an intimate portrait of two Texas police officers who are helping change the way police respond to mental health calls. The film takes audiences on a personal journey, weaving together these two officers' experiences during their daily encounters with people in crisis. These two officers are not your everyday cops. They are part of the San Antonio Police Department’s Mental Health Unit.
ERNIE & JOE: CRISIS COPS has received generous support from IDA Enterprise Fund, Fork Films, The David & Lura Lovell Foundation, The Texas Mental Health Collaborative, CT Office of the Arts, and LEF Foundation.
DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT
I believe strongly that my own contribution can be in raising awareness of tough societal issues through relatable characters and their stories. While making my last film, MOTHERS OF BEDFORD, it became evident to me that there were many people with untreated mental illness sitting behind bars. Upon learning of the innovative work of the SAPD mental health unit and meeting Ernie and Joe in person I felt compelled to make this film. Their jail diversion work is humane and desperately needed to improve not only the health of the mentally ill, but also of their families. We have seen many films illustrating the multitude of sins in police departments across the country. ERNIE & JOE: CRISIS COPS introduces us to officers trying and succeeding in doing it right.
- Jenifer McShane
CREATIVE TEAM
Director/PRODUCER: Jenifer McShane
Ernie & Joe: CRISIS COPS is Jenifer's third feature documentary (SXSW 2019). She spent years visiting the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility to make her last documentary, Mothers of Bedford (Hot Docs Film Festival, 2011), which reveals the impact of incarceration on incarcerated mothers and their children. Winner of the 2013 Director’s Award at the Social Justice Film Festival, selected by the U.S. Department’s American Film Showcase to tour internationally, it was broadcast on PBS stations nationwide as part of the America ReFramed documentary series. Jenifer’s first film, A Leap of Faith (Sundance Film Festival, 1996), which follows a group of parents in Belfast, Northern Ireland as they open an integrated school for Catholic and Protestant children was broadcast on PBS, and screened broadly on European television.
EDITOR: TOBY SHIMIN
Editor Toby Shimin began her film career as a sound editor, and switched to picture editing in 1988 when she cut THE CHILDREN'S STOREFRONT, which was nominated for an Academy Award. Since then, she has edited numerous films that have premiered at Sundance, including, HOW TO DANCE IN OHIO, which won a Peabody Award, A LEAP OF FAITH, MARTHA & ETHEL, MISS AMERICA, EVERYTHING'S COOL and the Sundance Audience Award winning films, OUT OF THE PAST and BUCK, which was also short-listed for an Academy Award. In 2017, she received the prestigious Documentary Editing Award at the Woodstock Film Festival for HBO's 32 PILLS: MY SISTER’S SUICIDE. Her most recent film, THIS IS HOME, won the Audience Award in World Cinema at Sundance in 2018.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: ANDREA MEDITCH
Andrea is an Emmy-winning creative and executive producer, whose films have won and been nominated for Oscars, and won top awards at such major festivals as Sundance, Tribeca and Toronto. She has produced or executive produced Emmy winner Dangerous Acts, Oscar winner Man On Wire, Oscar shortlisted BUCK, Oscar nominated Encounters at the End of the World, Grizzly Man, In the Shadow of the Moon, The Killer Within, Doubletime and The Flight That Fought Back. The Cage Fighter premiered at San Francisco and The Sensitives at Tribeca in 2017. Before launching her own company Andrea held executive and creative positions at Discovery, including building and running the first iteration of Discovery Films. Andrea is an advisor each year to the Sundance Producer Labs, Points North non-fiction storyteller retreat, the Hot Docs Forum and the American Film Showcase.
LINE PRODUCER: JAMEKA AUTRY
Jameka Autry is a New York based director and creative producer. In 2017 she was named an Impact Partners Creative Producers Fellow and she is also a 2018-19 Associate of the Investigative Reporting Program at the UC Berkeley School of Journalism. She previously produced MARATHON: The Patriots Day Bombing (HBO), IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE (Showtime), MATANGI/MAYA/M.I.A. (Sundance '18) and consulted on WE THE ANIMALS (Sundance '18) and LOVE, GILDA (CNN). Most recently, she was selected for DOC NYC's inaugural 40 Under 40 list.
ASSOCIATE EDITOR: JOY E. REED
Joy E. Reed brings over a decade of experience in documentary, and has been on the creative team of a number of films that have premiered at Sundance, including BUCK (Audience Award), and THIS IS HOME (Audience Award). Joy is the owner of Oh, MY! Productions®, and their work has been broadcast on PBS, HBO, and other festivals worldwide.
ASSISTANT EDITOR: JENNIFER STAMPS
Jennifer Stamps is a freelance editor/assistant editor who lives and works in the Hudson Valley. She has worked on many award winning films including BUCK (Sundance Audience Award), How To Dance In Ohio (Peabody Award), That Way Madness Lies, Indian Point, Mr. Angel, Echoes from the Attic (short), as well as the 7 Clinics with Buck Brannaman series. She recently made her directorial debut on the equine educational DVD, Horse Speak - First Conversations. Currently Jennifer is working on a limited tv series about Apollo and editing the forthcoming Dog Doc Educational Series.
Subjects Ernie Stevens and Joe Smarro
with Austin-based crew E.J. Enríquez and Paul Toohey
PRESS
HBO Makes Award-Winning Doc 'Ernie & Joe: Crisis Cops' Available Free Online For Mental Health Awareness Month
HBO sets TV premiere for Jenifer McShane’s “Ernie & Joe: Crisis Cops”
HBO Acquires SXSW Mental Health Docu ‘Ernie & Joe’
"Impressively intimate" ... "Riveting"
"One of the Best movies of the 2019 SXSW Film Festival"
"Captivating" ... "10 out of 10 stars"
"a shockingly emotional and human look at a new kind of police force"
"a beautiful documentary"
"a quiet stunner"
"Critics pick - 10 best films of SXSW 2019"
The Hollywood Reporter • Full Review
IDA Awards $850,000 to journalistic Docs
International Documentary Association Gives Grants to 13 Films
Abigail Disney's Fork Films Gives Out Grants to Help Complete 16 Documentaries
The LEF Foundation Is Excited to Announce 10 Moving Image Fund Grants
DATE
December 3, 2022
November 30, 2022
November 30, 2022
October 25, 2022
October 21-22, 2022
October 1, 2022
September 29, 2022
September 28, 2022
September 28, 2022
September 13, 2022
September 1, 2022
August 25, 2022
August 25, 2022
August 18, 2022
August 1, 2022
July 19, 2022
June 29, 2022
June 27, 2022
June 23, 2022
May 17, 2022
May 2-3, 2022
May 2, 2022
April 27, 2022
April 25, 2022
April 25, 2022
April 9, 2022
April 7, 2022
April 4, 2022
March 8, 2022
February 17, 2022
February 8, 2022
Jan. 30 - Feb. 5, 2022
January 23-29, 2022
LOCATION
MUSKEGON, MI
ST. CHARLES, IL
SCOTTS VALLEY, CA
CORPUS CHRISTI, TX
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA
ENGLEWOOD, CO
OMAHA, NE
LANDSDOWNE, VA
RENO, NV
WASHINGTON, DC
SPRINGFIELD, MO
MADISON, WI
MERRIFIELD, VA
TENNESSEE RIDGE, TN
ARLINGTON, VA
AUSTIN, TX
LAS VEGAS, NV
MADISON, WI
CONCORD, NH
TROY, MI
GARLAND, TX
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA
WASHINGTON, DC
DURANGO, CO
STATE COLLEGE, PA
JANESVILLE, WI
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA
ARLINGTON, VA
MADISON, WI
FRANKLIN, MA
LOS ANGELES, CA
LOS ANGELES, CA
HOST ORG / FILM FESTIVAL
All Shores Wesleyan Church
(hosted by Prison Fellowship)
Kane County State's Attorney's Office
Scotts Valley Police Department
Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi
University of Virginia
NAMI Colorado
Douglas County Dept. of Corrections
Prison Fellowship
University of Nevada, Reno Police Department Northern Command
American Bar Association Legal Education Police Practices Consortium
Rocky Mountain Information Network (RMIN) and Western States Information Network (WSIN)
Mid-States Organized Crime Information Center’s (MOCIC) 43rd Annual Conference & Training Session
NAMI Dane County
Prison Fellowship's Wardens Exchange Program
Centerstone
NAMI National
Bullock Texas State History Museum
Conference: International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA)
NAMI Dane County
Fellowship Housing Opportunities
Crisis Intervention Team Conference
Garland Police Department
Jefferson Heritage Center School
Correctional Leaders Association & Prison Fellowship
Durango Police Department
Strategies for Justice Conference
NAMI Rock County
L(a)unch and Learn with Gilbert Gonzalez - University of VA
NAMI National
NAMI Dane County
New England State Police Information Network (NESPIN)
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
December 15, 2020
December 15, 2020
December 14, 2020
December 10, 2020
December 8, 2020
December 8, 2020
December 5, 2020
December 2, 2020
December 1, 2020
November 20, 2020
November 19, 2020
November 19, 2020
November 18, 2020
November 9, 2020
November 9, 2020
November 7, 2020
November 4, 2020
November 2, 2020
October 28, 2020
October 27, 2020
October 23, 2020
October 22, 2020
October 20, 2020
October 18, 2020
October 6, 2020
October 2, 2020
October 1, 2020
September 25, 2020
September 25, 2020
September 24, 2020
September 21, 2020
September 17, 2020
September 7, 2020
August 31 - Sept. 4, 2020
August 6, 2020
July 15, 2020
July 13, 2020
July 10, 2020
May 12, 2020
February 27, 2020
February 16-17, 2020
February 9, 2020
February 8, 2020
February 7, 2020
February 6, 2020
January 16, 2020
November 15-21, 2019
November 15-21, 2019
November 16, 2019
November 14, 2019
November 12, 2019
November 12, 2019
November 11-12, 2019
November 9, 2019
November 3, 2019
October 26-27, 2019
October 26, 2019
October 20, 2019
October 19-20 & 30, 2019
October 19, 2019
October 17, 2019
October 17, 2019
October 12, 15, 18 & 19, 2019
October 9-10, 2019
October 6, 2019
October 5, 2019
October 4, 2019
October 1, 2019
September 21-22, 2019
August 25, 2019
August 23, 2019
August 4, 2019
July 31, 2019
July 27, 2019
June 21-22, 2019
June 19-20, 2019
June 1-2, 2019
April 27, 2019
March 8-17, 2019
SPOKANE VALLEY, WA
WASHINGTON, DC
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS
ADEL, IA
ELON, NC
ARLINGTON, VA
WILLIAMSTOWN, MA
DENTON, TX
NASHVILLE, TN
DES MOINES, IA
MADISON, WI
WASHINGTON, DC
TROY, MI
DENTON, TX
NEW YORK, NY
SAN MARCOS, TX
BEDFORD, MA
OTTAWA (ONTARIO), CANADA
WASHINGTON, DC
NASHVILLE, TN
WASHINGTON, DC
JANESVILLE, WI
NASHVILLE, TN
CALIFORNIA
TUCSON, AZ
TENNESSEE RIDGE, TN
RALEIGH, NC
SIOUX FALLS, SD
COLD SPRING, NY
NASHVILLE, TN
GARLAND, TX
BATON ROUGE, LA
MOUNTLAKE TERRACE, WA
MADISON, WI
WASHINGTON, DC
GUILFORD, CT
GARLAND, TX
HAILEY, ID
SAN ANTONIO, TX
SAULT STE. MARIE, ONTARIO
WOODLANDS, TX
VERGENNES, VT
PUTNEY, VT
BURLINGTON, VT
FORT COLLINS, CO
TUSCON, AZ
LOS ANGELES, CA
NEW YORK, NY
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO
NEW YORK, NY
TUSCON, AZ
NEWPORT, RI
CORK, IRELAND
ROME, GEORGIA
LOS ANGELES, CA
NAPLES, FL
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA
HOT SPRINGS, AK
MILWAUKEE, WI
SANTA FE, NM
ST. PAUL, MN
SANTA FE, NM
INDIANAPOLIS, IN
NASHVILLE, TN
RHINEBECK, NY
DALLAS, TX
WOODSTOCK, NY
BELLINGHAM, WA
PORT TOWNSEND, WA
MIDDLEBURY, VT
ASPEN, CO
SAN ANTONIO, TX
WOODS HOLE, MA
TRAVERSE CITY, MI
WASHINGTON, DC
NANTUCKET, MA
THE BERKSHIRES, MA
BOSTON, MA
AUSTIN, TX
Human Rights Activist Coterie
National Association of Counties (NACo)
Global Law Enforcement and Public Health Association (GLEPHA)
Iowa Law Enforcement Academy
Elon University
National Police Foundation / Council of State Governments
Williams Libraries
Denton Police Department
NAMI Tennessee
Georgetown Law Innovative Policing Program
Oakland Community Health Network & Auburn Hills Police Dept.
Denton Police Department
Institute for Innovation in Prosecution at John Jay College
Canadian Assn. of Police Governance Annual Conference
International City/County Management Association (ICMA)
NAMI Tennessee
Dane County Criminal Justice Council
NAMI Rock County
NAMI Tennessee
United Nations Association Film Festival
National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement (NACOLE)
Centerstone - Law Enforcement Training Session
NC State Univ. - Association for Gerontology Education in Social Work
NAMI TN Annual State Convention
Garland Police Dept.
Mountlake Terrace Police Dept.
NAMI Wisconsin
Assn. of Prosecuting Attorneys
Guilford Library
Garland Police Dept.
NAMI Wood River Valley
UT Health San Antonio
Shadows of the Mind Film Festival
Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center
ACT Human Rights Film Festival
Rocky Mountain Women's Film Festival
Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival
Metropolitan State University of St. Paul
Heartland International Film Festival
DOCTOBER | Pickford Film Center
Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival
UPCOMING SCREENINGS
PAST SCREENINGS
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MAR 23
Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center Conference
WITCHITA, KS
Screening event and presentation with Joe Smarro
JUN 14
2023 Illinois Crisis Intervention Team Conference
MACOMB, IL
Screening event with keynote address and discussion with Ernie Stevens
December 19, 2021
December 1, 2021
November 30, 2021
November 5-6, 2021
November 4, 2021
October 28, 2021
October 28, 2021
October 26, 2021
October 25, 2021
October 19, 2021
October 18, 2021
October 15-18, 2021
October 11-14, 2021
October 4, 2021
September 24, 2021
September 17, 2021
August 26, 2021
August 25, 2021
August 18, 2021
August 4, 2021
July 29, 2021
July 8, 2021
June 28, 2021
June 28, 2021
June 24, 2021
June 24, 2021
June 17, 2021
June 16, 2021
June 16, 2021
June 10, 2021
June 10, 2021
June 3, 2021
June 3, 2021
June 1-2, 2021
May 28, 2021
May 26, 2021
May 26, 2021
May 25, 2021
May 25, 2021
May 21, 2021
May 19, 2021
May 19, 2021
May 18, 2021
May 18, 2021
May 17, 2021
May 12, 2021
May 10, 2021
May 6, 2021
May 4, 2021
May 3, 2021
May 1, 2021
April 28, 2021
April 23, 2021
April 22, 2021
April 22, 2021
April 20, 2021
April 14, 2021
April 2, 2021
April 1, 2021
March 29, 2021
March 20, 2021
March 19, 2021
March 19, 2021
March 18, 2021
March 17, 2021
March 16, 2021
March 16, 2021
March 14, 2021
March 11, 2021
March 9 - 10, 2021
March 4 - 7, 2021
March 6, 2021
March 4, 2021
February 25, 2021
February 25, 2021
February 23, 2021
February 19, 2021
February 18, 2021
February 17, 2021
February 15, 2021
February 8, 2021
January 21. 2021
January 17, 2021
LOS ANGELES, CA
RANDOLPH, VT
LOS ANGELES, CA
MADISON, WI
MADISON, WI
ALEXANDRIA, VA
MADISON, WI
WHITE BEAR LAKE, MN
LOS ANGELES, CA
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO
BLOOMINGTON, IN
LOS ANGELES, CA
SAN ANTONIO, TX
LOS ANGELES, CA
WASHINGTON, DC
FLAGSTAFF, AZ
MADISON, WI
MIDDLETOWN, NY
PHOENIX, AZ
SAN ANTONIO, TX
MADISON, WI
VENICE, FL
WESTERLY, RI
PHOENIX, AZ
TUBA CITY, AZ
NEW HAVEN, CT
FLAGSTAFF, AZ
RANDOLPH, VT
FRISCO, TX
NEW HAVEN, CT
BISBEE, AZ
GREENWICH, CT
PHOENIX, AZ
CHANTILLY, VA
NEW YORK, NY
SAN ANTONIO, TX
WASHINGTON, DC
ELIOT, ME
LOS ANGELES, CA
NEW ORLEANS, LA
HACKENSACK, NJ
SAN ANTONIO, TX
LUBBOCK, TX
NEW HAVEN, CT
BRIDGEPORT, CT
NEW LONDON, CT
CALGARY (AB) CANADA
WASHINGTON, DC
ALBANY, NY
SHAWANO, WI
LACKLAND, TX
FLINT, MI
WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ
VIA ZOOM
EXETER, NH
ANCHORAGE, AK
RANDOLPH, VT
TEMPE, AZ
LOS ANGELES, CA
NEW HAVEN, CT
CAMBRIDGE, MA
WASHINGTON, DC
INDIANAPOLIS, IN
MADISON, WI
NEWINGTON, CT
RED DEER (AB), CANADA
CHICAGO, IL
SANTA FE, NM
ANN ARBOR, MI
LANSING, MI
WOODSTOCK, VT
TOPEKA, KS
PLAINVIEW, TX
DETROIT, MI
BREINIGSVILLE, PA
HARTFORD, CT
SIOUX CENTER, IA
MADISON, WI
BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA
DES MOINES, IA
FOSTERS, AL
WILLISTON, VT
IOWA CITY, IA
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
NAMI Vermont / Team Two Vermont
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
NAMI Wisconsin Annual Conference 2021
NAMI Dane County
Small Rural Law Enforcement Executives Association (SRLEEA)
NAMI Dane County
Applied Care Services, Inc.
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
Justice Clearinghouse
2021 National Conference on Police Social Work (hosted by the Bloomington Police Department)
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
2021 Interfaith Symposium and FusionCon
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
Bureau of Justice Assistance
Health Choice
NAMI Dane County
NAMI Orange County
Vitalyst Health Foundation, David & Lura Lovell Foundation
City of San Antonio - Department of Human Services
NAMI Dane County
The National Coalition for Mental Health Recovery
Westerly Hospital
Vitalyst Health Foundation, David & Lura Lovell Foundation
Vitalyst Health Foundation, David & Lura Lovell Foundation
Yale New Haven Hospital
Vitalyst Health Foundation, David & Lura Lovell Foundation
NAMI Vermont / Team Two Vermont
Police1 / Lexapol
Northeast Medical Group (NEMG) / Yale New Haven Hospital (YNHH)
Vitalyst Health Foundation, David & Lura Lovell Foundation
Greenwich Hospital / Yale New Haven Health System
Vitalyst Health Foundation, David & Lura Lovell Foundation
Fairfax County Public Schools - Chantilly Academy
ThriveNYC, FDNY, NYC Health + Hospitals
South Texas Veterans Health Care System
American Psychiatric Association Foundation
Eliot Police Department / NAMI Maine
Los Angeles Sheriffs Department
Crescent City Corps / New Orleans Police Department
Bergen County Division of Mental Health & Bergen County Stigma-Free Task Force
The Volunteer Services Council of the San Antonio State Hospital
Texas Tech Mental Health Initiative / West Texas Mental Health Collaborative
Northeast Medical Group (NEMG) / Yale New Haven Hospital (YNHH)
Yale New Haven Hospital
Lawrence & Memorial Hospital
Alberta Community Crime Prevention
Association Annual Conference
American Bar Association
Families Together in New York State
Shawano Police Department
960th Cyberspace Wing,
US Air Force Reserve
Genesee Health System
APNA-NJ Annual Conference
Live Webinar Event
Exeter Police Department
NAMI Alaska
NAMI Vermont / Team Two Vermont
Arizona State University, School of Social Transformation
LA County Department of Health
NAMI Elm City
VINFEN 14th Annual Moving Images Festival
International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Conference
NAMI Indiana Annual Conference
NAMI Dane County
Connecticut Alliance to Benefit Law Enforcement (CABLE)
Red Deer College
University of Chicago, Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy and Practice
Center for Contemporary Arts Santa Fe
MILO Range
NAMI Lansing, Tri-County Crisis Intervention & Clinton-Eaton-Ingham Community Mental Health
NAMI Kansas
Wayland Baptist University
Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network
Upper Macungie Township Police Dept.
Connecticut State Senate
Dordt University
League of Women Votes of Dane County
Lower Mainland Crisis Negotiation Team
Drake University
NAMI Tuscaloosa
NAMI Vermont & Team Two Vermont
NAMI Johnson County Iowa
APR 21
Curry College
MILTON, MA
Private screening & discussion with Joe Smarro
FEB 9
NAMI Dane County
MADISON, WI
Private screening during CIT training followed by a discussion with Ernie Stevens
FEB 24
Prison Fellowship
LANDSDOWNE, VA
Private screening followed by a discussion with Ernie Stevens
FEB 27
Randolph Mental Health Resources Group
RANDOLPH, VT
Community screening event in conjunction with Team Two Vermont
CONTACT
For general inquiries, please contact us at ernieandjoethefilm@gmail.com
To receive news about the film & upcoming screenings/events, please sign up for our mailing list:
We're always seeking ways to help connect the film with appropriate organizations. If your group would like to host a community screening, or if you would like to volunteer to work with our outreach campaign in another way, please contact us at ernieandjoethefilm@gmail.com.
SUPPORT
Our goal is to share the film with communities including law enforcement and mental health organizations across the country. Should you wish to support the outreach campaign for ERNIE & JOE: Crisis Cops, please visit our fiscal sponsorship page at the Center for Independent Documentary:
or contact the filmmakers at ernieandjoethefilm@gmail.com
© E&J The Film LLC, 2021
Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s owner is strictly prohibited.