Police Dept. Forms "Crisis Intervention Team"

The Clayton Police Department is taking steps to upgrade the way it handles crisis situations involving the mentally ill.

Two officers, Sgt. Tamra Gentry and Neal Johnson, will be part of a "Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)," which includes local mental health providers. The team will attempt to stabilize crisis situations so that mentally ill residents can get the care they need without having to go through the criminal justice system. Chief Glen Allen said the training prepares officers for situations that in previous years would have resulted in criminal charges and jail time.

"The CIT program is a jail diversion program," according to information on CIT provided by the Department. "This means that the officer-consumer interaction does not result in an arrest. This reduces the number of cases for the Criminal Justice System to address, and it reduces the number of beds needed in our jails. Obviously, the CIT program aims at training law enforcement to getting consumers the necessary attention from mental health resources whenever possible rather than placing them in detention centers which can aggravate the problems."

Gentry and Johnson recently completed CIT training, and Chief Allen said the entire force will be trained "on the capabilities and limitations of the CIT program." Another officer, Jason Bloodworth, received CIT training when he served with the Raleigh Police Department.

The new program should help reduce the number of injuries to both police and mentally ill residents, as well as improve relationships between police and the community, the Chief said. In addition, access to proper treatment should be enhanced for the mentally ill--and without the stigma of unnecessary time in local jails.