Direct benefits of Police CIT
For Connecticut Citizens
- Mental health crisis response is immediate
- Consumers are provided care and access to mental health services
- Consumers have enough trust to request CIT officers in a crisis
- Use of force during crisis events will be decreased
- Underserved or ignored consumers are identified by officers
- Mental health consumers will volunteer to serve as integral participants
in police training because trust is established
- Mental health professionals will call the police for assistance in a
crisis (because they no longer fear the excessive use of force)
- Emergency room doctors seek input from officers on the patient's level
of impulse control and overall dangerousness
- Emergency commitment population will decrease as easier access for
mental health services is achieved
- Patient violence and use of restraints in the ER (emergency room) will
be reduced due to the intervention of the CIT patrol and de-escalation of
potentially volatile situations
- Mental health professionals will volunteer to lend expert
instruction/supervision to CIT officers
- Law enforcement officers will be better trained and educated (by using
verbal de-escalation techniques)
- There will be less officer injury during crisis events Officer
recognition and positive publicity will increase in the community
- Officer "down time" is significantly reduced on a crisis event after
being trained as a CIT officer
Director Walter J. Murphy, Memphis Police Department says:
CIT is about responsibility and accountability to the
community, family members and consumers of mental health services. Special needs
deserve special care. CIT promotes education, sensitivity, understanding and the
building of community partnerships."
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