22 graduate from Crisis Intervention Team training in Harriman
Sixteen law enforcement personnel, five emergency medical service employees, and one mental health professional graduated from Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training on April 19 from Gates Hall in Harriman.
The graduates represented a wide range of departments and agencies: Amerimed EMS, Anderson County Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, Covenant Health, Harriman Police Department, Oak Ridge Police Department, Oliver Springs Police Department, Roane County Sheriff’s Office, and Ridgeview Behavioral Health Services.
CIT is an innovative first-responder model of police-based crisis intervention with community, health care, and advocacy partnerships. CIT provides 40 hours of specialized training for problem solving and de-escalating crisis situations with individuals who have a mental illness. Studies show it also improves the safety of patrol officers, mental health consumers, family members, and citizens within the community.
The East Tennessee CIT Task Force is a partnership between the Oak Ridge Police Department, Clinton Police Department, Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, Oliver Springs Police Department, Ridgeview Behavioral Health Services, NAMI Oak Ridge, Department of Children’s Services, and other community health advocates. To date, more than 370 law enforcement and emergency services personnel have received training.
Roane County Sheriff’s Office Chief Tim Hawn addressed the graduates and provided the keynote address, thanking them for their service to the community, while Oak Ridge City Council Mayor Pro Tem Jim Dodson closed the ceremony with a word of gratitude and appreciation for their commitment to the needs of others.
Greg Miller, general manager with Amerimed EMS Tennessee, reflected before the graduation ceremony, “The 40-hour crisis intervention training is paramount to helping first responders better support people who are experiencing a mental health crisis and get them the help they need.”
Brian Walker, Roane County Sheriff’s Office, said, “CIT gives officers a road map on how to help consumers who are experiencing a mental health emergency and it introduces new skills for our tool belt to de-escalate situations and connect people to the care and services available in the community.”
The next training is scheduled to take place in the fall of 2024.
Michael Yates is the director of development at Ridgeview Behavioral Health Services. Ridgeview is a private, not for profit community mental health center with locations in Anderson, Campbell, Fentress, Morgan, Roane, and Scott counties.
This article originally appeared on Oakridger: 22 graduate from Crisis Intervention Team training
