| The West Haven Police Department was the second city
in the State of Connecticut to offer specialized support services to our citizens
with disabilities. The WHPD teamed up with
Connecticut Alliance to
Benefit Law Enforcement (C.A.B.L.E.) and the
New London Police
Department to train members of our department to better aid consumers
who suffer
with a mental illness. All CIT members
must successfully complete training designed to increase the awareness of the many
mental illnesses and medications they may encounter in the field.
Other training includes awareness of "Suicide by Cop", suicide
ideation/attempt, visual and/or auditory hallucinations, and other topics.
It is the goal of the West Haven Police Department to
not only become an additional resource for agencies and health care
providers that serve these consumers, but to continue to be a support system for
those consumers themselves. Through these partnerships, we are able
to offer more appropriate care and referrals to proper agencies (if needed).
When a call involving an emotionally disturbed person,
person with a mental illness, or a "crisis" call is identified, a CIT member (whenever available)
is dispatched. These CIT members are identifiable by the Pathfinder pin or patch on their uniform
(image shown above).
Currently, the West Haven Police Department has
approximately 30 team members which cover all available shifts.
For more information on the CIT program, please
contact the CIT Coordinator,
Capt. Lorie Tamaro at 203-937-3900 or via email. |
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