April 1, 2006 The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) is a multi-agency collaboration of police and other professionals within the community committed to assisting people who have mental illness and other brain disorders.  The Atlanta Police Department’s CIT participants are officers who have received specialized training to respond to crisis events involving mentally ill persons. 

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Atlanta Police Department

Policy Manual

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Special Order

 

 

 

Effective Date

April 1, 2006

 

 

 

APD.SO.06.02

Crisis Intervention Team

 

 

Applicable To: All employees

Approval Authority:  Chief Richard J. Pennington

Signature:  Signed by RJP

Date Signed:  3/22/2006

 

 

1.               PURPOSE

 

To establish a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) for the Atlanta Police Department.

 

2.               POLICY

 

The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) is a multi-agency collaboration of police and other professionals within the community committed to assisting people who have mental illness and other brain disorders.  The Atlanta Police Department’s CIT participants are officers who have received specialized training to respond to crisis events involving mentally ill persons. 

 

3.               RESPONSIBILITIES

 

3.1              The Field Operations Division commander is responsible for implementation of this directive and will provide additional guidance through command memoranda as necessary.

 

3.2              The Zone 5 commander is responsible for implementation of the pilot project in Zone 5 and will designate a lieutenant to be the CIT coordinator.

 

3.3              The CIT coordinator is responsible for ensuring that officers receive CIT training as needed and comply with any and all requirements of the CIT program. He or she will serve as the Department’s liaison with other agencies participating in the CIT.

 

3.4              Police officers who receive CIT training and participate in the program are responsible for their regular duties, for following CIT procedures, and for coaching other officers in CIT skills.

 

4.               ACTION

 

4.1              The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) is a collaboration of professionals within the community committed to assisting people with mental illness and other brain disorders. The CIT program is sponsored by the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill; the Georgia Department of Human Resources Division of Mental Health, Development Disabilities, and Addictive Diseases; Georgia Bureau of Investigation; Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police; Georgia Sheriff's Association, Inc.; and the Georgia Public Safety Training Center. The objectives of the CIT are to:

 

1.    Ensure that people with mental illnesses and other brain disorders receive treatment;

 

2.    Increase the number of local governments with community-based jail diversion programs for adults and children with serious mental illness;

 

3.    Improve the quality and quantity of mental health services;

 

4.    Protect the rights of people with mental illness and other brain disorders; and

 

5.    Promote adequate training for criminal justice system personnel about mental illness, developmental disabilities, Alzheimer's disease, and substance abuse.

 

4.2              Law enforcement officers who are trained in CIT can effectively assist individuals with mental illness and other brain disorders who are in crisis, thereby advancing public safety and reducing the stigma commonly associated with mental illness.

 

4.3              The Atlanta Police Department CIT is comprised of officers who have received specialized training to respond to crisis events involving mentally ill persons.

 

4.4              Employee participation in CIT will be voluntary. Employees interested in joining the CIT will be selected based on: personality, disposition, judgment and action in crisis situation, maturity, leadership skills, and prior exposure to the mentally ill.

 

4.5              All members of the CIT must satisfactorily complete the CIT curriculum approved by Georgia POST.

 

4.6              CIT officers will respond to the scene of any call for service involving the mentally ill when practical.

 

5.               DEFINITIONS

 

                  N/A

 

6.               CANCELLATIONS

     

N/A

 

7.               REFERENCE

 

http://www.ganet.org/gbi/CIT/index.html