Crisis Intervention Team

The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) program is a community partnership of law enforcement, mental health and addiction professionals, individuals who live with mental illness and/or addiction disorders, their families and other advocates. It is an innovative first-responder model of police-based crisis intervention training to help persons with mental disorders and/or addictions access medical treatment rather than place them in the criminal justice system due to illness related behaviors. It also promotes officer safety and the safety of the individual in crisis. Basic CIT training for officers consists of 40 hours of classroom and scenario-based instruction. Over 50% of our officers and civilian personnel have completed CIT certification training.

One Mind Campaign Pledge

The La Vista Police Department is recognized by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) for successfully meeting, and even exceeding, the pledge requirements. The One Mind Campaign seeks to ensure successful interactions between police officers and persons affected by mental health illnesses. The agencies that demonstrate a serious commitment to implementing all four required strategies, listed below, in a timely fashion will become publicly recognized members of the One Mind Campaign.

• Establish a clearly defined and sustainable partnership with one or more community mental health organization(s)
• Develop and implement a model policy addressing police response to persons affected by mental illness
• Train and certify 100% of your agency’s sworn officers (and selected non-sworn staff, such as dispatchers) in Mental Health First Aid or other equivalent mental health awareness program (JCRPA MH First Aid, Basic CIT, & ICAT De-Escalation in house training)
• Provide Crisis Intervention Team training to a minimum of 20 percent of your agency’s sworn officers (and selected non-sworn staff, such as dispatchers)