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Number: 821

Mandates:
  • Civil Rights
  • Cultural Competency
  • Human Rights
  • Legal Updates
  • Officer Wellness and Mental Health
  • Procedural Justice
  • Use of Force
February 10, 2025 - February 14, 2025
0800 - 1630

* One year of experience (from the date of hire) is a prerequisite for attending this course. *

This 40-hour program is designed to provide selected officers with specialized training on dealing with individuals in the community who have a mental illness or other behavioral disability.  CIT officers are trained as resource specialists who can provide immediate response to calls involving a mental health crisis.  The “team” concept refers to law enforcement involvement with stakeholder agencies, as well as interagency mutual assistance when appropriate.

During the week, students will participate in a variety of valuable exercises that will simulate auditory and 3-D visual hallucinations that individuals with a mental illness might experience.  The program will also provide officers with a unique opportunity to interact with individuals who have a mental illness and their family members (primary and secondary consumers).

An essential part of the CIT course is scenario-based skills training.  Officers are challenged with realistic scenarios portrayed by professional actors from Chicago and St. Louis.  Scenarios may include a suicide intervention, de-escalating a violent situation, or responding to a call involving an individual experiencing paranoia.  All scenarios are facilitated and evaluated by certified CIT officers.

Topics include:

  • Signs and Symptoms of Mental Illness
  • Medical Conditions That Mimic Mental Illness
  • Compliant Surrender and Tactical Response
  • Child and Adolescent Disorders
  • Autism / Mental Retardation
  • Risk Assessment and Legal Issues
  • Substance Abuse
  • Psychotropic Medications
  • Geriatric Issues and Considerations
  • Police Response to Suspected Excited Delirium

This program is funded through a grant from the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board