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Crisis Intervention Training Held at Ferguson Township

Posted on: January 12, 2023 - 8:29am
CIT

FERGUSON TOWNSHIP (Centre County, Pa.)--Local police and other first responders will conclude the 22nd session of a specialized 40-hour Crisis Intervention Training program on Friday, January 13th.

This week's training in the Main Meeting Room of the Ferguson Township Municipal Building will conclude with a graduation ceremony at 2 pm Friday.

The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) is a partnership of police, emergency medical services (EMS), emergency communications, correctional facilities, probation, mental health agencies, individuals with lived experience, and advocates, that provides a law enforcement-based crisis intervention and de-escalation response to situations involving persons in a mental health crisis.

Some of the training program topics include:
  *   recognizing and understanding specific signs and symptoms of mental illness;
  *   understanding how mental health affects various segments of the population;
  *   understanding the effects and side effects of psychotropic medications, and
  *   basic and advanced verbal de-escalation techniques.

Attending this week's Crisis Intervention Team training are representatives from the Ferguson Township Police Department, State College Police Department, Patton Township Police Department, Penn State University Police Department, Spring Township Police Department, Bellefonte Borough Police Department, Centre County Correctional Facility, Centre County Probation & Parole, Centre County Emergency Communications, Center for Community Resources, and James E. Van Zandt VA Police Department.

Centre County CIT was awarded a grant in December of 2010 to help establish this nationally recognized program locally. The goal of CIT is to increase safety for all those involved and divert or lessen the impact of the criminal justice system for persons experiencing a behavioral, emotional, or mental health crisis.

Since the program launched in Centre County in 2011, it has trained 403 first responders, law enforcement officers and other professionals.

Learn more: Crisis Intervention Team Training teaches officers how to get those in crisis the help they need.  https://www.centrecountypa.gov/725/Centre-County-Crisis-Intervention-Team-C.

Congratulations to Ferguson PD Officer Bryan Greene for completion of this week's CIT Training, and a special thanks to Centre County Crisis Intervention Team Coordinator,  Ms. Tracy Small, for her dedication to this important program.

CIT graduation 2023
Pictured left to right: Assistant Township Manager, Jaymes Progar; FTPD Sergeant Shawn Morrison; FTPD Officer Bryan Greene; Township Manager, Centrice Martin; FTPD Chief John Petrick; and Centre County CIT Coordinator, Tracy Small.