Madison County and Oneida law enforcement attend crisis intervention training - Oneida Dispatch
Wampsville, N.Y. — Madison County officials along with a few from the City of Oneida took part in Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training hosted by the Madison County Mental Health Department (MCMHD) in Cazenovia, NY.
The 40-hour training was attended by 12 Madison County Sheriff’s Deputies, 3 officers from the City of Oneida Police Department, as well as individuals from MCMH and Madison County CPS.
According to a county press release, CIT is a group of experienced officers specially trained, on a voluntary basis, to deal with emotionally disturbed individuals in a variety of situations in the community. These situations may include suicidal persons, persons exhibiting irrational behavior, psychiatric patients, and the homeless. Addressing various mental health concerns and/or referrals is at the root of CIT.
Members of CIT receive specialized training on a variety of issues including indicators of emotional disturbance, mental illness signs and symptoms, communication skills, trauma, veteran’s issues, elderly mental health, juvenile mental health, police stress, suicide, and much more.
The MCMHD held two previous trainings in 2016 and 2017. A training was planned for 2020, but had to be postponed due to COVID-19.
Officials say that CIT is not only training, it is a team that meets monthly to discuss the high-needs individuals that police have had contact with and to discuss potential service referrals that can be made if the individual is interested. The team hopes to help officers deescalate situations with mentally ill individuals in the community and to avoid unnecessary hospitalizations or sending them to jail.
In the Madison County Sheriff’s Office Police Reform and Reinvention Plan that was submitted to New York State earlier this year, the MCSO committed to having all full-time deputies trained in CIT within three years, according to the MCSO. The attendance and graduation of 12 deputies at this year’s training is one step closer to accomplishing that goal. Madison County Mental Health plans on hosting another CIT training in 2022.
“Many times when someone is distraught or having a mental health crisis, the police are dispatched to intervene. With this specialized training, our officers are better able to serve and protect our residents, and also link the individual to services they need”, says Madison County Sheriff Todd Hood. “I want to thank Madison County Mental Health for hosting this training and for their continued support and cooperation.”
“The Madison County CIT has been a very important part of our system of care for people who are struggling with mental health concerns,” said Madison County Mental Health Director Teisha Cook. “The officers that we have trained over the last few years have developed strong relationships with our mental health staff and other behavioral health agencies, and the training has enhanced their ability to interact with individuals in need. We are excited that the Madison County Sheriff’s office continues to embrace the training and has sent so many officers this year. We look forward to continuing our partnership and working together to serve individuals in our community.”
Officials encourage anyone feeling like they need someone to talk to call Madison County Mental Health’s 24-hour a day crisis line. Call (315) 366-2327, select prompt 1.
source: https://www.oneidadispatch.com/2021/11/14/madison-county-and-oneida-law-enforcement-attend-crisis-intervention-training
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