Officers graduate CIT training: Law enforcement personnel learn about mental illness and how to respond on calls
"The 24 class participants who graduated Friday at LindenPointe’s Workforce Training and Development Center experienced such scenarios as being pulled over for a traffic stop while listening to various comments, including shouting and swearing, from the ear piece.
Bennett said the weeklong training, which was open to law enforcement and emergency responders, was beneficial, providing more knowledge about mental illness.
Classmate Brian Clark of Mercer County Juvenile Probation said the training also teaches patience and empathy for those with suffering from mental health issues.
“They’re struggling with something out of their control,” Clark said....
In addition to Grove City, participating police departments were Greenville-West Salem, Hempfield, Hermitage, Sharon, Shenango Township and Thiel College. Other trainees were from Mercer County Jail and the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole in Mercer.
This was the fourth class since the Mercer County Criminal Justice Advisory Board started the program in October 2017, bringing the total participants to 80."
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