Time: April 20-24, 2026 - 0800-1600
Location: Lancaster Police Department Training Room, 525 Pavement Road, Lancaster, NY 14086
Who Can Attend?: This 40-hour course is recommended for sworn police or peace officers with
2-years-plus on (or recommendation from their supervisor) who have a genuine interest in
becoming a specialist for their agency and assisting individuals with mental illness divert their
crisis from the criminal justice system.
Instruction will include thorough review of mental health conditions and how to recognize
distress, special populations, communication and de-escalation, mental hygiene law, suicide
assessment, system review and diversionary resources. Scenario-based training is essential to
this course, as is opportunity for discussion and feedback from peers and experts. Officers will
be asked to secure their weapons during scenario training.
CIT is organized with the support of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration as well as the New York State Office of Mental Health. Presented in partnership between Crisis Services Emergency Mental Health Department and certified CIT Officers/Instructors from Town of Lancaster, Village of Hamburg, Town of Cheektowaga Police.
What are Crisis Intervention Teams?
-Specialized training for law enforcement in responding to individuals with mental illness
-Creation of teams of officers within jurisdictions designated to respond to EDP calls
Benefits to the Community:
Increases safety
Improves communication between citizens
and law enforcement
Builds trust in the community
Increase awareness about mental health
Focus on providing appropriate care to
individuals with mental illness
Benefits for Police Agencies:
Reduces officer injury
Decrease chance of using force
Focus on diversion (jail and hospital)
Cost effective; promotes appropriate use
of police resources
Encourages better relationships between
community and police
Enrollment: Please send an email to Mo Madden cittrainingcoordinator@crisisservices.org and include the attendee: full name, last 4 of Social, date of birth, title/rank, appointment type (ie. under CPL §1.20(35) or §2.10(25)), last hire/appointment date, employment status (ie. full/part time). A recommendation from your employer is not required, but encouraged.
Please note attendees must participate in all 5 days, and failure to attend each day can
result in not receiving DCJS certification for the course.