The Harrisonburg Police Department is looking to improve its response to emergency calls that involve a mental health crisis.
Approximately 90 percent of sworn personnel have received Crisis Intervention (CIT) and Integrating Communications, Assessment and Tactics (ICAT) training in the classroom, but being faced with situations in real time isn’t something many officers feel equipped to handle on their own.
“We’re putting an officer in a situation that is really challenging, and so to put those officers in those situations without an extensive training in these topics, it is a really tough situation,” HPD Captain Jason Kidd told AFP.
The department announced this month plans to add two new jobs: a licensed clinician and a qualified mental health professional.
Story online: https://augustafreepress.com/news/harrisonburg-a-mental-health-crisis-is-among-top-five-emergency-calls-to-police/