Crisis Intervention Teams
For the most detailed information on CIT in Indiana, please visit https://www.cit-indiana.org/
Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) is a pre-arrest jail diversion that promotes and supports collaborative efforts to create and sustain more effective interactions among law enforcement, mental health care providers, individuals with mental illnesses, their families, and communities and to reduce the stigma of mental illness.
NAMI Indiana provides a framework to interested communities that brings CIT into more and more areas around the state. For more detailed information and resources, please visit https://www.cit-indiana.org CIT Indiana is a technical assistance center operated by NAMI Indiana and supported by the Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction.
The first Crisis Intervention Team was developed in Memphis Tennessee in 1988 under the leadership of Lt. Sam Cochran. He partnered with members of NAMI, local universities, and local mental health providers to develop training for law enforcement. Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training now exists in many communities across the United States. While this training was originally developed for law enforcement, it has been expanded to include dispatch, EMTs, and other first responders and criminal justice professionals. Over the course of one week, this 40 hour training teaches participants about various types of mental illnesses, as well as active listening and de-escalation of crisis situations, and what mental health resources are available in the community. The goal is to have a safe resolution of crisis situations involving individuals living with mental illness, and to divert these individuals away from the criminal justice system and into treatment where recovery can begin.
NAMI Indiana gladly works with those interested in building or strengthening CIT in their communities. For assistance with CIT in your community, please contact NAMI Indiana's Criminal Justice Director, Marianne Halbert.
In 2015, Gov. Pence signed SEA 380 into law. This bill was updated by 2017's Senate Enrolled Act 231. This important legislation requires the Indiana Law Enforcement Training Board and the Division of Mental Health and Addiction to establish a state CIT Technical Assistance Center. While there was no funding attached to the bill, beginning July 2019, the Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction (DMHA) did provide support to NAMI Indiana to implement portions of our technical assistance center, including a website, coordinator handbook, mapping and research, as well as mini-grants for small rural departments to send officers to a CIT class.
Indiana CIT Contact Information by County
Bartholomew (Columbus)
Sgt. Alyson Eichel
Columbus Police Dept.alysoneichel@columbus.in.govBoone (Lebanon)
Lynette Clark
IN-Well Healthlynette.clark@inwell.orgDelaware (Muncie)
Mary Bedel
NAMI Delaware Countymbedel@icloud.comElkhart (Elkhart)
Tina Keim
Jail Capacity Coordinatortkeim@elkhartcountysheriff.comHamilton (Fishers)
Sgt. Angela Ellison
Fishers Police Dept.ellisona@fishers.in.usHancock (Greenfield)
Detective Sgt. Bridget Foy
Hancock Co. Sheriff's Dept.bfoy@hancockcoingov.orgHendricks (Danville)
Sheriff Brett Clark
Hendricks Co. Sheriff's Dept.bclark@co.hendricks.in.usApril Bordeau
Care to Changeapril.bordeau@caretochange.org
Lawrence (Bedford)
Chief Deputy Gregg Taylor
Lawrence Co. Sheriff's Dept.gtaylor@lawrencecounty.in.govMarion (Indianapolis)
Sgt. Lance Dardeen
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Dept.lance.dardeen@indy.govLt. David Roberts
Marion Co. Sheriff's Officedavid.roberts@indy.govDonna Yancey
NAMI Indianapolisdonnayancey@att.netFor CIT for Youth (CIT-Y):
Detective Bradley Hinshaw
IMPDbradley.hinshaw@indy.govOhio & Dearborn (Lawrenceburg)
Kathy Barnum
NAMI Southeast Indianakathbb@comcast.netTippecanoe (Lafayette)
Sheri Moore
NAMI West Central Indianasmoore@nami-wci.orgVanderburgh (Evansville)
Lt. Mark Rasure
Vanderburgh Co. Sheriff's Officemrasure@vanderburghsheriff.comVigo (Terre Haute)
Jennifer Todd
Indiana State Universityjennifer.todd@indstate.eduDetective Sgt. Dan Parmer
ISU Police Deptdaniel.parmer@indstate.eduDetective Troy Pesavento
Terre Haute Police Dept.troy.pesavento@terrehaute.in.gov
Calendar: For information about upcoming CIT classes taking place around Indiana view the CIT Calendar. You will need to contact the local CIT coalition coordinator to inquire for information about the class, including any request to attend.
CIT Resources for Communities
Memphis Model National Curriculum- Are you planning a CIT training in your community? The University of Memphis developed this interactive sample 40-hour curriculum which will walk you through the important components of Memphis Model CIT training. Notice the 10+ hours of scenario based skill training!
Learn More about CIT and CIT Startup - CIT International has published materials to help communities build an effective CIT coalition and training curriculum in their community -- available to the public.
CIT International - Website with CIT resources from around the world. Membership is $25/ year.
Mental Health First and Aid and CIT - What Should Law Enforcement Do? - The National Council on Behavioral Health and CIT International worked together to publish this white paper about the strengths of and differences between MHFA and CIT.
