Welcome to Skagit County

October 5th, 2006

LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS COMPLETE CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM TRAINING

SKAGIT COUNTY - On September 28, 2006, six law enforcement officers from throughout Skagit County completed a 4-day Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training sponsored by Skagit County Human Services. The training was funded by a grant from the National Association of Counties, Eli Lilly & Company, and Skagit County funds.

Graduates included Officer Doug A. Liddle from the Anacortes Police Department; Officers Rick B. Vander Griend, Ely B. Jerrad, and Andrew J. Litke, and Community Service Officer C. Jill Boudreau from the Mount Vernon Police Department; and Sgt. Scott R. Butler from the Burlington Police Department.

CIT training provides officers with new strategies and tools for identifying, preventing, and de-escalating mental health crisis calls. Officers received 32 hours of training in mental illness, substance abuse and the local mental health and chemical dependency treatment systems. CIT decreases arrest and injury rates for people with mental illness, increases officer and citizen safety, and enhances public involvement in law enforcement efforts. CIT programs across the country help direct persons with mental illness into treatment instead of inappropriate incarceration. Officers learn to integrate their police training with some different approaches to a person they believe to have a mental disorder. Role playing is utilized to make the experience as close to reality as possible.

For additional information on Crisis Intervention Team trainings, contact Rebecca Clark, Skagit County Human Services at 360-336-9395.