All Set For Pinellas County Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Graduation Ceremony
Release Number: 09-283
Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Sheriff Jim Coats
Pinellas County Crisis Intervention Team
Sergeant Tom Acker
34 Graduates from Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, Clearwater Police Department, St. Petersburg Police Department, Gulfport Police Department, Largo Police Department, Pinellas Park Police Department
Partners:
-Pinellas County Mental Health and Substance Abuse Coalition (Provided Training)
-National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Pinellas County Chapter
-Personal Enrichment Through Mental Health Services (PEHMS)
-Directions for Mental Health
-Suncoast Center
-Boley Centers
-Baycare
-Suncoast Hospice
-Villas of Belleair
-Stradford Court of Palm Harbor
-Windmoor Healthcare
What: A graduation ceremony is scheduled for 34 law enforcement and corrections personnel that have successfully completed the 40-hour Pinellas County Crisis Intervention Team training program. The graduates are from various law enforcement agencies. The CIT program is designed to provide specialized training in working with persons with mental illness or dealing with a substance abuse crisis.
Where: The graduation ceremony will be held at the Hospice Gathering Place located at 5771 Roosevelt Boulevard in Clearwater.
When: The graduation ceremony will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, November 6, 2009.
The 40 hour training course was held the week of November 2, 2009.
How/Why: A graduation ceremony is scheduled for 34 law enforcement and corrections personnel from various agencies, that have successfully completed the 40-hour Crisis Intervention Team training program. The graduation ceremony will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, November 6, 2009 at the Hospice Gathering Place located at 5771 Roosevelt Boulevard in Clearwater.
The training was held the week of November 2, 2009.
CIT training provides law enforcement officers and corrections personnel the tools to effectively deal with persons during a mental health or substance abuse crisis. With this training, law enforcement officers who are frequently first responders, will be equipped with the information necessary to assist and guide persons dealing with mental illness to the appropriate services.
Since CIT was first offered in 1999, over 800 law enforcement and corrections personnel have received CIT training on how to recognize citizens with mental illness, and how to work with them. In fact, Pinellas County held the first CIT course in the state for law enforcement personnel and continues to support the expansion of this training throughout Florida.
The media is invited to cover the graduation ceremony.
For further information on CIT, please contact Sergeant Tom Acker with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office at 727-582-6200.
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