SPD
This week, the Salina Police Department is sponsoring the 40-hour CIT Class. The class is based on Bureau of Justice Assistance curriculum, and is taught by experts in the field from mental health, law enforcement, the judiciary, homelessness, and other community service providers.
Officer Chris Venables, the Department’s CIT Coordinator, said, “Crisis Intervention Teams (CITs) are local initiatives designed to improve the way law enforcement and the community respond to people experiencing mental health crises. They are built on strong partnerships between law enforcement, mental health provider agencies, and individuals and families affected by mental illness. Many cities have successful CIT teams that do great things in the community and get people the services they need. Not all subjects we deal with want help, but there are a lot that do.”
SPD has a pool of CIT officers, and we are expanding our team with freshly trained officers. This program also intersects with the Department’s Co-Responder Program. This program is where Officers and Mental Health Professionals respond together to persons-in-crisis in the field, to provide alternatives to police enforcement action, and provide quicker crisis and mental health services.
There are 22 attendees in this class, and they are scheduled to have another later in the fall. Nine attendees are with SPD, and nine attendees are with the Saline County Sheriff’s Office.
Community Corrections and CKMHC employees are also in attendance.