Asbury Police chosen for select crisis intervention training
APPD one of six agencies in pilot program stressing tools for mental health crises
The Asbury Park Police Department has been invited to participate in the Attorney General’s Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Center of Excellence pilot program. The program includes five other law enforcement agencies from around the State of New Jersey. Asbury Park is the only agency represented in Monmouth County.
“We’re thankful to be invited by the Attorney General to participate in this unique program involving both law enforcement officers and mental health professionals,” said Chief David Kelso, “CIT training will help our officers work together with the Asbury Park mental health community to help citizens experiencing mental health crises.”
As part of Governor Murphy’s Excellence in Policing initiative, Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training has been expanded statewide. The intensive 40-hour training program is designed to reduce injury or death to officers, family members and individuals in psychiatric crisis, while building a partnership between law enforcement and the local community mental health system.
In fall 2019, Attorney General Gurbir Grewal issued a comprehensive package of policy initiatives designed to reinforce and clarify the Garden State’s commitment to excellence in policing, according to the Attorney General’s website. These statewide reforms are intended to promote the culture of professionalism, accountability, and transparency that are hallmarks of New Jersey’s best law enforcement agencies. Through Attorney General Grewal’s “Excellence in Policing Initiative,” the state is building a national model for strengthening trust between law enforcement officers and the communities they serve, the attorney general’s website stated.
“Governor Murphy’s Excellence in Policing initiative is designed to help the ongoing effort of strengthening trust between law enforcement and community,” said Mayor John Moor, “We are pleased that Asbury Park Police Department has been chosen as a participant in CIT training which will provide our officers with tools to assist in responding to situations involving individuals experiencing a mental health crisis.”
For more information on the Attorney General’s Excellence in Policing Program, visit click here.
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