Loudoun County Reaches Milestone In Crisis Intervention Training

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office hit a milestone last week when personnel graduated from the 40th session of crisis intervention training (CIT). The CIT program is designed to promote positive interaction between law enforcement and people in crisis, and also helps reduce injuries to deputies and people suffering from mental illness.

CIT teaches law enforcement personnel — both on patrol and in the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center, in addition to emergency dispatchers — to calmly and effectively communicate with citizens experiencing a behavioral crisis.

The program has been recognized both regionally and nationally, according to a LCSO release, and has trained over 600 personnel from the local, state and federal level.

After assessing the number of incidents involving mental illness in the county, Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman set a goal seven years ago of training 25 percent of sworn personnel in CIT. In 2017, the LCSO exceeded that goal by having 100 percent of all uniformed patrol and corrections deputies with two or more years of experience, as well as dispatchers and call takers in the Emergency Communications Center, trained in CIT.

The week-long training includes classroom instruction and role play exercises to help law enforcement personnel gain a better understanding of what it means to live with serious mental illnesses. Participants also conduct site visits to Inova Loudoun Behavioral Services , the Homeless Shelter and MHSADS offices at the Shenandoah Building.

“This training is a valuable skill set and has assisted our staff in many instances to peacefully resolve potentially violent situations,” Chapman said in a release.

The 40th training sessions marked the largest class in the history of the Loudoun County CIT program. Thirty people graduated from the class last week, and represented multiple agencies including the LCSO, Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue System, Loudoun Animal Services, Loudoun County Public Schools, the Leesburg Police Department, the Winchester Police Department, the Front Royal Police Department and the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency.