Crisis Intervention Team 1st Annual Award Recognition Ceremony
The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Working Group is proud to announce that the first CIT Awards Ceremony will be held on Tuesday, May 12, 2015 at 2PM the Scottish Rite Masonic Center Auditorium, 2850 19th Avenue, San Francisco. The awards ceremony will recognize CIT-trained SFPD officers who have expertly used communications and de-escalation skills to safely and effectively resolve six incidents involving individuals in mental health crisis. Chief Greg Suhr will open the ceremony, and Major Sam Cochran, co-founder of the CIT program nationally and a retired member of the Memphis Police Department, will provide the keynote speech.
The CIT Working Group is partnership between community members, mental health advocates, health service providers, and police officers working together to provide cutting-edge training for law enforcement officers. The goal of CIT is to train and deploy officers with the skills necessary to effectively address crisis situations in the field. The San Francisco Police Department currently has 344 CIT trained officers.
The training is designed to teach officers how to de-escalate incidents involving individuals in mental health crisis (when time, officer safety, and terrain allow). The CIT curriculum addresses the following topics: Mental Health Disorders, Medical Issues, Psychotropic Drugs and Side Effects, Juvenile Mental Health, Geriatric Mental Health, Family Perspective by the National Alliance of Mentally Ill, Suicide and Suicide Intervention, Dual Diagnosis, Vicarious Trauma and Conflict Resolution, Suicide by Cop, PTSD Signs and Symptoms, Veteran Encounters and Interactions, and Homeless Outreach. The CIT Program is supported through the Police Commission, officers of the SFPD, mental health advocates, health service providers, and community members.
Please join us to learn more about the CIT Program and to honor the outstanding efforts of our officers who have used their training to de-escalate crisis situations and create peaceful resolutions. We will also recognize individuals who have been paramount to the foundation and implementation of the CIT program.