Crisis Intervention Team Procedures

• This outlines the roles and procedures for Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) officers and other personnel when dealing with individuals experiencing a mental health crisis.
• The Fort Wayne Police Department acknowledges the need for an immediate response to mental health crises and aims to resolve situations with respect and concern for citizens.
• The agency is committed to providing assistance and resources to individuals and families affected by mental illness.

Indiana Code Definitions

• Indiana Code 12-26-4-1, Section 1: Allows law enforcement officers with reasonable grounds to believe an individual with mental illness is dangerous or gravely disabled and in immediate need to apprehend and transport the individual to the nearest appropriate facility, excluding state institutions.
• Indiana Code 12-26-4-2, Section 2: Requires officers transporting an individual to a facility under Section 1 to submit a written statement detailing the reasons for their conclusion that reasonable grounds exist.
• Indiana Code 12-26-4-3, Section 3: requires the statement from Section 2 to be filed with the individual's records at the facility and with the appropriate court if charges are filed.

Communications Division Procedures

• All call takers/dispatchers screen calls for indications of mental illness or crisis.
• Once identified, a CIT officer and backup unit are dispatched.
• If a CIT officer isn't available, two officers are sent.

Responding Officer Protocols

• A CIT officer takes charge of a mental illness investigation, with a backup unit assisting as needed.
• CIT officers gather information to determine if a 24-hour immediate detention or 72-hour emergency detention order is warranted.
• Non-CIT officers contact a CIT officer with details if they believe someone is suffering from mental illness, with the possibility of transporting the individual to a medical facility for assessment.
• A consumer cannot sign themselves into a treatment facility if their blood alcohol level is .05 BrAC or higher, have ingested any lethal amounts of over-the counter medicine, ingested prescribed medicines in more than the prescribed dosage amounts, ingested any type of illegal substance, or have demonstrated that they are a danger to themselves or others, including a non-life threatening suicide attempt, in these cases the consumer will be help on a 24-hr immediate detention order completed by a certified CIT officer.
• Individuals are transported to the nearest appropriate medical facility.
• If Parkview-Randalia is the destination, ER staff triage the consumer while the CIT officer completes the Immediate Detention Order.
• The transporting officer may request Parkview Randalia be notified of their arrival, the officer will then be advised is the consumer will need admittance to the hospital.
• If alcohol consumption is suspected, a PBT will be administered, if the BAC is less than .05% and none of the circumstances are present, the consumer can be transported directly to Parkview Behavioral Health on Beacon Street.
• If a felony has been committed, the individual is transported to lockup with criminal charges filed, lockup personnel are notified if the individual is suffering from mental illness, and a C.I.T statistical sheet is completed.
• If a misdemeanor has been committed, mental health detention occurs, but criminal charges are not filed, and no criminal charges can be filed if the person is held on a 24 or 72-hour hold.
• Individuals transported by CIT or assisting officers are searched and handcuffed.
• CIT officers transport individuals to an emergency medical facility and complete the immediate detention paperwork and reports.
• The four-page detention paperwork is divided as two copies to the medical facility, and one copy to the CIT coordinator.
• CIT officers are not required to standby during the psychological evaluation process.
• The officer must ensure that the individual is being observed by hospital personnel prior to their departure.

Training Requirements

• All CIT officers must receive a minimum of 40 hours of initial training from mental health professionals, representatives of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, and consumers.
• CIT program graduates need an additional 4 hours of continuing education annually, which can occur during duty with approval, and must be documented by the instructor, which must be provided to the Training Center to verify the hours completed.