Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Officers learn to identify mental health issues
Police from several area departments participated in crisis intervention training
Chester County held its first Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training program this week, bringing together law enforcement personnel and mental health educators to improve community response and reduce the number of individuals with mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders in jail.
A group of 28 law enforcement officers in Chester County were trained for the program. The group of officers, including a number of prison officers, graduated from the 40-hour nationally accredited Crisis Intervention training program.
“This is a way to de-escalate a situation,” said West Goshen Police Chef Joseph Gleason, who
hosted the class. “This helps to deviate a person from the criminal justice system to the mental health system.”
Statistics show that a large population of prison inmates should be in the mental heath system, not incarcerated. Gleason said he hoped the officers would go back to other officers and command staff to tell them the benefits of the training so officials can expand the program.
Every year, more than two million jail bookings involve a person with a mental health condition. As the contacts between law enforcement and those needing mental health care become more frequent and involved, there’s an increased need for collaboration and cooperation between the systems,” said Gary Entrekin, administrator of the county’s Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities agency in West Chester. “We feel very positive about the Crisis Intervention Team training, as we recognize the police and first responders need every tool available when a mental health crisis happens. This training will not only help to de-escalate crisis situations, it will enhance safety and access to treatment, which is our mission as a caring and supporting community.”
The county received a grant from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. A second training session will be held at the end of October.
At graduation, officers were given a pin to wear on their uniform to encourage spreading the word to other police officers.
“I hope this training will be beneficial not to just folks you encounter, but for you officers,” County Commissioner Kathi Cozzone told the group as they received certificates and pins. “We are so proud of law enforcement in Chester County.”
This idea has been percolating a long time in the county,” Cozen said. Crisis intervention training is focused on one of five places a person suffering mental health issues can be diverted out of the criminal justice system. That is the initial contact with law enforcement.
The intensive, training program was led by retired Chester County Director of Mental Health Caroline Smith, who came out of retirement to run the program as project coordinator. Trainers included mental health professionals, a national consultant, officers from other agencies, prison officials as well as people who have family members with mental health issues.
“It was a great class,” said North Coventry police Officer Victor Marchese, following graduation. “It gives officers the opportunity to help the community in a much needed way.“
Officers from Kennett, Phoenixville, Coatesville, Parkesburg, Malvern, West Chester, North Coventry, West Brandywine, Tredyffrin, Caln, West Goshen, East Fallowfield, West Pikeland, and East Pikeland took part in the program, as well as a state constables and representatives from Chester County Prison.