COURT HOUSE – Cape May County Prosecutor Robert L. Taylor announces the successful completion of Cape May County’s first Crisis Intervention Team Training (CIT). This training was put on in collaboration with the Cape May County Chiefs of Police Association, Cape Counseling Services, and staffed by professionals from the Mental Health field. The training was conducted May 1, 2017, through May 5, 2017 and was comprised of (22) Law Enforcement Officers from municipalities within the County as well as (8) other professionals from local agencies including; Cape Counseling, Cape Assist, Social Services and the Division of Child Protection and Permanency.
Cape May County is now one of several other counties within the State committed to strengthening the partnership of County based professionals working together towards a goal of improving local law enforcements system of responding to persons in the field experiencing a psychiatric crisis who may come into contact with law enforcement first responders. Attendees of this training were hand selected either by their Chief of Police and or Agency head of their respective agency. Attendees received 40 hours of training in the identification of symptoms of mental health, onsite crisis management, de-escalation techniques and appropriate use of local mental health services. The training predominantly consisted of classroom instruction by specialized professionals within the mental health field and experienced CIT officers with a vast knowledge of the field regarding calls for persons suffering from a crisis related to mental health. Additionally, during the training attendees participated in a wide variety of practical exercises delivered by local mental health professionals, CIT law enforcement instructors and other subject matter experts. The training also included a site visit day to several local mental health facilities and family based resource outlets including: Cape Regional Medical Center’s Behavioral Health Unit/ CCS Screening Department, Cape Counseling Services Crest Haven site and Genoa Pharmacy, Cape Counseling’s Family Success Center, Division of Child Protection and Permanency and the Cape May County Jail to observe and understand the process and procedures of each of these facilities regarding patient options and admittance.
Police departments with CIT trained officers utilize these officers as the “go to” responders and assist other officers for a crisis call with individuals displaying symptoms of mental health. At the weeks end participants reported that the experience and knowledge acquired was very valuable, providing them with many useful strategies, tools and increased knowledge of supportive agencies that can offer individual and/or family support as an alternative to hospitalization.
The training was spear headed by Prosecutor Taylor who stated that it is extremely important that law enforcement and professionals within the mental health field continue to work together hand in hand to ensure community members and their families suffering from mental health crisis get the proper care and help needed reducing officer and consumer injury. Prosecutor Taylor added that through the training officers trained in CIT learn how to link consumers and their families with appropriate treatment, which has a positive impact on fostering recovery and reducing recidivism.
Chief Paul Skill of the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office added, he is very excited to have the CIT program up and running in Cape May County and believes this training will be a huge asset and another great tool for officers to utilize during a mental health crisis. Chief Skill added the collaborative efforts from both law enforcement and mental health working together will help ensure maximum safety for all parties involved in a mental health crisis. Chief Skill stated this is just the first of many CIT classes, which will be hosted by the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office and hopes to eventually have all law enforcement officers in the County trained in the future as well as more mental health professionals.
Prosecutor Taylor stated a thank-you is extended to Greg Speed, CEO and President of Cape Counseling Services and all his staff; Patricia Devaney, Cape May County Mental Health Administrator, Edward Dobleman, New Jersey State Crisis Intervention Director, Cape May County Chiefs of Police Association and all of our partners in law enforcement, mental health field and community partners. Prosecutor Taylor wanted to recognize Lt. Joseph Landis and Detective Sergeant Ashlee Marriner for all of their hard work in preparing this five day class and also thank Katherine Durante, Executive Director, OceanFirst Foundation of OceanFirst Bank for their contribution of $1500.00 to help fund the class along with their continuing efforts and dedication to positively impact the community through their support of education and awareness of mental health and many other issues affecting our community. The completion of this training was a success that demonstrated the value of teamwork and collaboration between law enforcement, local mental health agencies and other professional agencies with a shared interest to meet the needs of the community!
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