Select Officers
CIT officers are the face of CIT, so it is important to carefully select officers for participation in the program. The CIT officer's role involves increased responsibility and accountability, so it's important to choose officers with a strong character and a temperament suited to responding to people in crisis. They will set an example for other officers and for the community.
In order to find the officers best suited for CIT, many programs rely on officers to volunteer for the program. Officers may also be encouraged to volunteer by a supervisor who is familiar with the officer's skills, experience and suitability for this role.
While law enforcement agencies will vary in the specific selection criteria, the officer selection process usually includes:
- Supervisor recommendation
- Disciplinary review
- An Interview
- Review of past performance evaluations
Having a rigorous selection process for CIT officers also helps officers to view the CIT program as a special honor and responsibility and raise the profile of CIT officers within the law enforcement agency. It's important to provide special recognition to CIT officers both to motivate officers to participate in the program and to ensure their work is respected by their peers. It's not recommended to use the CIT training as a disciplinary remedy for officers who are lacking in leadership skills or an appropriate temperament.
Perspectives: When considering how many officers should be trained in CIT, there is no specific percentage that works best for all communities. You should have enough CIT officers to respond to mental health crisis calls during all shifts. At the same time, CIT officers should be part of a specialized uniform patrol response. During a mental health crisis, it's important to know who is in charge; the CIT officer should have a clear leadership role. The performance of CIT officers is embodied by their leadership and specialized skills.
It is also important to note that a 40 hour CIT training session should be limited to approximately 25 officers, to allow time for each officer to participate in scenario-based practice of de-escalation skills. Your community may need to host multiple training sessions to train sufficient officers.
Resources
Memphis Crisis Intervention Team Application 2012
University of Memphis CIT Center, Crisis Intervention Team Core Elements (page 12)