Tomorrow (Nov. 17), the NOPD will graduate the newest class of police officers trained in specialized de-escalation techniques known as Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training. CIT is a nationally recognized ‘best practices’ approach in recognizing and managing behavior that may be attributable to a mental health disorder. This is the fifth class to graduate from the training since the NOPD launched the program in September 2015. More than 20 percent of all patrol officers have received CIT training since then.

CIT officers received 40 hours of specialized training from mental health experts focused on techniques and best practices for minimizing the use of force against individuals in crisis due to mental illness or a behavioral disorder. Training includes lectures from mental health experts as well as on-site visitation and exposure to mental health facilities, intensive interaction with individuals with a mental illness and scenario-based de-escalation skills training. CIT officers are then assigned to each police district to respond to and de-escalate mental health and other crises.

The graduation will take place at 10 a.m. at the NOPD Training Academy at the University of New Orleans.