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Sheriff's Office Personnel Working to Deal with Mentally Ill Citizens
Nov 13, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Ann Arnall, Lee County Human Services After two years in the making Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT) within law enforcement are becoming a reality in Lee County. During the entire week (November 13-17 2006) twenty-three personnel from the Lee County Sheriff's Office will receive 40 hours of specialized training to better deal with crisis involving mentally ill persons. Crisis Intervention Teams are carefully selected from a volunteer pool of primarily uniform patrol officers. This training class also includes personnel from corrections, communications and the courts. Many who volunteer do so because of a personal experience with friends or family members who battle mental illness. The training teaches officers about various mental illnesses, the local service delivery system, and effective ways to de-escalate crisis situations complicated by mental illness. Crisis Intervention Teams are proven to promote better public safety by reducing injuries to both law enforcement officers and citizens when responding to calls involving persons with a mental illness. Additionally such programs focus on people receiving treatment rather than entering the criminal justice system. Throughout the week, officers will receive classroom training and participate in hands-on activities such as site visits to local mental health treatment facilities, role-play, and interaction with persons who have mental illnesses and their family members. The Crisis Intervention Team Training is a collaborative effort between local law enforcement, Lee County Board of County Commissioners, the State of Florida Department of Children and Families Substance Abuse and Mental Health Program Office, the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill Lee County Inc., the Lee Mental Health Center dba the Ruth Cooper Center, Southwest Florida Addiction Services, and the United Way of Lee County. Several local psychiatrists and other mental health professionals have donated their expertise and time to this project. Please contact Ann Arnall at 533-7920 or 634-4073 for additional information.
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