Our department recently hosted a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Training for local law enforcement officers. This 40-hour, week-long course is designed to give officers the tools, training and resources to handle a mental health crisis in the field.
CIT involves working in a team with mental health practitioners, law enforcement, medical personnel, and other first responders. The focus is to provide the best services possible to the individual in a mental health crisis.
All sworn officers in Washington are required to complete an initial CIT course followed by annual training.