Introduction

In November of 2007, the Amarillo Police Department initiated a program designed to improve police response for persons in a mental health crisis.  The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) concept was first used in Memphis, Tennessee.  The APD CIT was formed with officers that had a particular interest in the challenges presented by this part of police work.  These officers were given specialized training to better prepare them to recognize, communicate with, and assist people in immediate and ongoing mental health crisis situations.  The CIT program allows the department to provide more time and specific efforts than patrol officers have traditionally been able to provide in mental health crisis situations.  In addition, the program enhances safety for both officers and the person in crisis.  The program goal is to provide the most appropriate type of help to those in need, and also to reduce unnecessary use of law enforcement resources.  Situations such as repeated calls for police service from a person with a mental health issue can be alleviated by application of the correct resource early on.  The program works to divert the mental health service consumer away from the criminal justice system into more appropriate long term help and allows officers to correctly address those with mental illness.

The Program 

The CIT program currently involves eight officers.  One supervisor coordinates CIT efforts, but there will be one CIT trained sergeant on each shift by September.  The officers are distributed among the shifts to allow for the best coverage.  When the police department receives a call involving a potential mental health issue, available CIT officers are the first option for response.  All APD officers have crisis intervention training, but CIT officers are provided with additional classroom and on-duty training.  In addition to training, CIT officers are allowed needed time away from responding to police service calls to better provide for the person in crisis. Their time may involve extensive interview with the person, putting the person in contact with the right mental health or social agency or professional, or renewing the person’s prior involvement with service providers.  In cases in which there is an imminent danger of harm, the law allows officers to take a person to a mental health facility for assessment and possible admission. 

CIT officers often work with Texas Panhandle Centers (TPC) through the TPC Mobile Crisis Outreach Team.  The MCOT can respond 24 hours a day to assist officers with assessment of persons in crisis and provide referrals for social service or treatment.  Officers may also work with Adult Protective Services, justice of the peace courts, or families dealing with loved ones’ dementia and related issues.  This multidisciplinary team of police and service resources can provide the most appropriate options to help the people in need.    

Training

      CIT officers have received training hours in excess of that provided to all officers in recognizing signs of mental illness, suicide risk assessment, communication skills, and de-escalation techniques.  CIT officers receive training and certification as Mental Health Peace Officers.  The officers also attend cross training with other mental health and social service professionals.  The cross training allows them to establish personal contacts that improve their understanding of outside agency services and procedures, enabling cooperation and efficiency.  CIT officers also instruct at the academy level and provide state mandated crisis intervention training.  CIT trained officers have used their enhanced training not only in daily work but in specialized applications such as assignment to the Negotiation Team.   

Successes

      One of the CIT’s early successes involved a mentally ill female who called the police department 53 times from her home in one year.  These calls were usually the same – the woman had a mental health issue which caused hallucinations.  Through collaboration with other agencies, the person was given extensive treatment for her illness.  In the next year, she contacted the police department only once due to the issue.  This is an example of the program reducing the strain on law enforcement resources.

      In many instances, CIT officers have talked with individuals who were contemplating suicide, and successfully resolved these crisis incidents.  In one case, a CIT officer spoke with a knife wielding man who had already cut himself and was suicidal.  After several minutes of conversation, the man put down his knife and voluntarily went to the hospital with the officer.  In some instances, CIT officers determine that the person that had expressed suicidal thoughts could be assisted with only short term social service support that the person simply did not know was available.  Though not all crisis situations can be resolved with negotiation or communication, use of the Crisis Intervention Team helps enhance the Department’s ability to provide for the health and safety of everyone involved in these situations.

Thanks to Captain Martin Birkenfeld, Sgt. Leslie Supina, Sgt. Charles Williams, Ofc. Neil Jensen, and Ofc. Nathan Thompson who have worked in the CIT program and contributed to this article.