Logan and Champaign CIT Program Hosts Annual Training and Recognizes Outstanding Officers

Last week, the Logan and Champaign Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) program partnered with the Union County CIT program to host the annual 40-hour CIT Patrol Officer Training Course. The CIT Patrol Officer Training Course aims to improve crisis response outcomes by patrol officers, enhance safety for all involved during an interaction with a person in crisis, and divert people in crisis ​

​from the criminal justice system when possible. It is designed to increase knowledge of mental illness and other disorders, enhance empathy, compassion, and cultural sensitivity, increase the ability to recognize and assess a person in crisis and intervene when needed, develop and increase communication and de-escalation skills, improve knowledge of the local crisis response system and how to navigate it and increase understanding of laws, court decisions, regulations, and individual’s rights related to taking someone into custody for emergency hospitalization. The course utilizes local and regional trainers, an evidence-based curriculum, and even virtual reality. This training would not be possible without the partnership and support of our law enforcement partners, behavioral health treatment providers, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), and others.  This training leads people to get connected to the right kinds of help when needed most.
 
As part of the CIT graduation ceremony on Friday, we also honored six previously trained CIT officers/deputies for their outstanding performance in handing CIT calls for service in 2024. The awardees included Champaign County Sheriff's Office CIT Officer of the Year: Deputy Tim Morris;  Urbana Police Department CIT Officer of the Year: Officer Tristen Ruef; Champaign County Small Department CIT Officer of the Year: Officer Trent Davis, North Lewisburg Police Department; Logan County Sheriff's Office CIT Officer of the Year: Deputy Justin Taylor; Bellefontaine Police Department CIT Officer of the Year: Officer Savarrah Sullivan; and Logan County Small Department CIT officer of the year: Degraff PD Chief Terry Brentlinger.