Since having gone through the CIT several years ago I have witnessed the program’s value to law enforcement first hand on many different occasions. However, one that stands out in my mind occurred several months ago and incorporated not only sworn officers but our agency’s communications personnel.
This incident occurred when a communicator received a call from a female who indicated extreme distress and the potential to do harm to herself. The communicator that took the call immediately contacted me and updated me as to the type call they were dealing with. Through the training I received in the CIT program we were able to quickly assess the situation and provide the officer with vital information pertaining to the caller. It was later determined that we were dealing with a potential consumer that had threatened herself and family members in the past. We advised the responding officer (another CIT trained officer) of the type of call, the caller’s current state of mind, and family information that was used by the officers to help resolve this incident.
The communicator that spoke with the caller (a CIT trained communicator) established good communications with the caller and coordinated with patrol officers to better assist the caller. Working together we were able to divert the caller from the standard procedures available to law enforcement, to a course of action that better addressed the customer’s needs. Because of the CIT program officers and civilian personnel were able to respond to the incident more effectively and efficiently. The caller later stated that during the phone conversation they trusted the communicator that they were speaking with. This incident highlights the importance of having communicators involved with CIT. I would encourage departments to consider communication personnel when signing up for this program. In most incidents they are the only line of communications between law enforcement and the citizens that we serve. |
