Time to bring back Crisis Intervention Team

When I read the article in the Rockford Register Star, “Use-of-force policy scrutinized,” on June 21, I was both saddened and shocked.

The Rockford Police Department training scenario described a frightened mother calling the police because her son was in a psychiatric crisis. In the training scenario, four officers were sent to the home to respond. The fact that four armed, uniformed officers arrive at a person’s home who is in psychiatric crisis would exacerbate the crisis.

Imagine what it feels like being approached by four strangers. That alone is excessive use of force. Adults in psychiatric crisis are afraid and don’t have control of their thoughts and feelings. A psychiatric crisis is a medical problem and requires treatment.

There are evidence-based practices that law enforcement can use to respond to a psychiatric crisis. One model, based out of Oregon, integrates into the city’s public-safety infrastructure, dispatches a medic and crisis worker to respond to non-criminal crises involving people experiencing mental illness problems, substance abuse and homelessness.

Another approach includes pairing police officers with mental health professionals. This has been a huge success in Peoria. The gold standard and internationally recognized model is the widely used Crisis Intervention Team or CIT. Crisis Intervention Team Training is an in-depth 40-hour specialized course of study for law enforcement officers who, in addition to their regular service calls, will be required to respond to crisis calls involving people with mentally illness.

These officers will use their knowledge and skill of mental illness and substance abuse to effectively handle the crisis situation and make the most appropriate disposition, which will best serve the individual and the community.

CIT is considered a specialty certification such as SWAT, canine and drug recognition experts for officers who have been on the street for at least two years. Although there are approximately 100 CIT trained officers in RPD, CIT is NOT working here. What is missing is the TEAM. Core elements of CIT include partnerships with law enforcement, mental health providers and NAMI – National Alliance on Mental Illness — keeping data and research and providing recognition and honors.

There needs to be a collaboration of CIT officers with the mental health system and the court system including referrals to problem-solving courts. These do not exist. When CIT began in Rockford there was a partnership between Frank Ware, Janet Wattles Center, Greg Lindmark, RPD and Jean Morrow, NAMI.

Unfortunately, with the deaths of Frank Ware and Greg Lindmark the CIT partnership crumbled. Officers were trained but not made part of a specific team. There were no refresher courses for any officers trained from 2004 to the present.

What we are doing now is not working. In fact, it has resulted in more deaths. Especially to black males. We need more training, but we also need the TEAM back. Mental health crises are not appropriate criminal-justice matters.

Mary Gubbe Lee is a Licensed Social Worker and a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. She has worked in mental health for 40 years and is a strong mental health advocate. Mary was the coordinator of CIT training for 10 years.