28 Local Law Enforcement Officers Graduate County’s Crisis Intervention Team Training

Last week, 28 law enforcement officers, representing eight departments, took part in a 5-day, 40-hour Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training, hosted by Dutchess County Government, the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, the Dutchess County Department of Behavioral & Community Health (DBCH), the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department, and PEOPLe, Inc. as part of the Dutchess County Police Academy. A graduation ceremony was held on Friday, November 30th at the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department on Tucker Drive to recognize members of the City of Beacon, City of Poughkeepsie, Town of Hyde Park, Town of Poughkeepsie, Town of Lloyd and Village of Goshen police departments, as well as the Columbia County and Dutchess County Sheriff’s offices who completed the training. Since its inception in 2015, more than 300 state and local law enforcement, corrections, and probation officers have completed the training, including nearly 80 this year.

28 law enforcement officers, representing eight departments, took part in a 5-day, 40-hour Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training as part of the Dutchess County Police Academy. A graduation ceremony was held on Friday, November 30th at the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department.

The training is designed to help educate police officers on how to effectively interact with individuals who may be in crisis due to behavioral health or developmental disabilities. This partnership between law enforcement, advocacy and mental health communities is part of Dutchess County ongoing effort to divert individuals dealing with mental illness from entering the jail. The CIT training is part of the Dutchess County Law Enforcement & Community Training Initiative, which is modeled after the Memphis Model Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Training.

County Executive Marcus J. Molinaro said, “This vital training gives law enforcement officers the skills to recognize the signs of mental crisis to more effectively interact with the individual to help redirect them from the criminal justice system and toward community organizations that can provide the care and services they need. By thinking differently about people with developmental disabilities and those suffering from mental health issues, we can take a step closer to stomping out the stigma associated with mental illness and treat these individuals with the compassion they need. I congratulate the officers who have completed this year’s trainings and thank our partner organizations and the instructors for their continued leadership and resources. We look forward to continuing this training in 2019.”

Members of law enforcement and mental health professionals from New York State, DBCH and several community agencies lead the trainings. Officers take part in training and role-playing sessions covering a wide range of mental health-related topics, including communication skills, understanding suicide/suicide intervention, substance abuse/co-occurring disorders, veterans’ mental health issues, and specific mental illnesses/personality disorders. Additionally, several panel discussions are held with individuals who have been directly affected by mental illness themselves or through a loved one.

Steve Miccio, Chief Executive Officer of PEOPLe, Inc. and Chair of the Criminal Justice Council’s Diversion Committee said, “The Crisis Intervention Team training not only provides law enforcement officers with the proper techniques to interact with individuals in the community coping with mental illness, but also establishes partnerships with service agencies, like PEOPLe, Inc., to ensure the best possible result for long-term recovery and helping to promote a healthier and safer community.”

In addition to Crisis Intervention Team training for law enforcement officers and first responders, the County also offers its Mobile Crisis Intervention Team, Alternative to Incarceration programming, the Dutchess County HELPLINE – available via call or text 24/7 at (845) 485-9700 – and its 24/7 Stabilization Center, located at 230 North Road in Poughkeepsie, which all work together towards the County’s goal of reducing avoidable hospital visits and jail admissions.