Officers Complete Crisis Intervention Training

Press Release:  May 1

April 20 was graduation day at the Indian River Community College Kight Center in Fort Pierce. The ceremony was held to honor two dozen law enforcement officers who successfully completed an intensive course in Crisis Intervention Training.

This was the second class to complete the 40 hour training program that teaches officers how to respond to individuals in a mental health crisis. Thanks to the specialized training, the Treasure Coast now has 60 officers who have been trained to handle mental health emergencies.

 “It takes a special kind of officer to deal with these intense situations,” said Baldwin. “Every day our officers are in dangerous situations, and our goal is to have a peaceful resolution.”

Susan Barnard, Division Director of New Horizons, lead the effort to bring CIT to the Treasure Coast. The training has been a community-wide collaboration of New Horizons, local law enforcement agencies and mental health groups. During the 40 hours of intensive training officers learned about mental illness in adults and children; symptoms, medications, and side effects; stigma and legal issues. They took tours of the mental health units and learned about suicide awareness and intervention techniques.

Law enforcement agencies from four jurisdictions participated in the training.  Graduates from the Fort Pierce Police Department included Officers James Aikens, Joshua Buday, Taryn Doukas and Martin Oritz. 

Officers David Butterworth, Calvin King, Richard Giaconne, Rebecca Hohenberg, Trevor Horton, Russell Jackson, and Joe Norkus represented the Port St. Lucie Police Department. Enza Abbate and Debra Lapham of the new Treasure Coast Forensic Treatment Center completed the training.

St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office was well represented by Sergeant Troy Church and Deputies Mildred Brown, Jose Estrada, William Hedges, Michelle Hernandez, and Justin Jackson.  Deputies, Timothy Jones, Efrem Neal, Donald Palfrey, Leah Stephens and Kimberly Tipton also completed the training.