Sheriffs: You Need Crisis Intervention Training
A Letter from the local president of the National Alliance on Mental Illness
Sheriff Bill Cogbill
Asst. Sheriff Sean McDermott
Sonoma County Sheriff’s Dept.
2796 Ventura Ave.
Santa Rosa, Ca. 95403
Dear Sheriff Cogbill and Asst. Sheriff McDermott:
As president of the local NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) affiliate, I would like to share some information that we feel would be very valuable for your law enforcement department. I am also sending this letter to Police Chief Ed Flint.
In the wake of the Jeremiah Chass tragedy, we would like to offer some assistance in the way of giving you some contact names and numbers associated with Crisis Intervention Training (CIT). There is a NAMI –endorsed program that started in Memphis, TN which includes family members/consumers in a role-playing inclusion for the training of law enforcement on calls with the mentally ill. It has been suggested that 25% of the staff be taught at first, with a goal of 100% trained. Just as summer vacations get scheduled and officers cover for each other, it can work the same way with CIT. MHSA funds cannot cover the salaries if the officers, but they can be used for the training.
“Risk to officers and consumers have been SIGNIFICANTLY reduced as a result of CIT.”
So says officer,
clinical psychologist, and hostage negotiator Greg Sancier of San Jose. His work
number is: 408-277-4418 and his CELL number is: 408-234-7352. If you’ll invite
him (NAMI could put him up) he is happy to come share how this program has
affected his staff. He just finished his 20th training, and suggests you talk to
Sheriff Greg Munks, San Mateo County, and Deputy Will Pickens, hostage
negotiator as well. A Santa Rosa woman, Laura Tietz, worked with the San Jose
P.D. and has lots of experience with CIT and is willing to assist NAMI and you.
Enclosed are some of her materials of interest.
Even closer to home, Dr. Joel Fay, a clinical psychologist who works with the
police force in San Rafael has sent a cover letter and an hour-by-hour training
agenda for CIT. He can be reached at: 415-485-5773 x 1111366. He has just
finished CIT training in Humboldt County. For more on his background:
http://www.aprilwrites.com/articles/community/fay.html
Dr. Fay also recommends
Dr. Emily Keram, Santa Rosa forensic psychiatrist, to assist as she has
experience with CIT training in San Francisco. She also has experience with
counseling officers who have PTSD following any violent encounters. NAMI would
like to propose that a Criminal Justice Roundtable be held where the police and
sheriff’s department, Sonoma County Mental Health Board/ Dept., family members
and consumers, and CIT-trained officers all come together to discuss the
possibility of adopting the CIT program. As I am sure you are aware, our
community wants some assurance that they can feel comfortable when calling law
enforcement to help a mentally ill loved one. Consumers are not criminals and
they need a different, more humane approach and we think that this CIT goes a
long way towards that end.
Sincerely, Joan Hedgepath