Sheriff’s Office

The Prince William County Sheriff's Office Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) is designed to protect the safety, dignity, and rights of persons suffering from mental health issues and protect the community from potentially dangerous behavior. CIT deputies have specialized training in recognizing signs and symptoms of persons experiencing a behavioral crisis while maintaining officer and public safety.

 

Training

The training helped prepare law enforcement officers and emergency dispatchers to calmly and effectively communicate with citizens experiencing a behavioral crisis. Additionally, the training included intervention techniques for deputies or officers responding to scenes for a person who may be suicidal.

The training includes classroom instruction and role-play exercises which enable law enforcement personnel to gain a better understanding of the experience of living with serious mental illnesses. It was taught by Prince William County  certified CIT Sheriff’s Deputies, Prince William County Police Department, mental health professionals, and other experts within the field. During the 40-hour training, students are introduced to social, psychological, and legal aspects associated with mental illness, as well as Aspergers, Autism, and the Wounded Warrior Program.