The family of Xavier Hernandez has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the El Paso Police Department following his death from asphyxia during a mental health crisis. The lawsuit alleges that the department's Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) is severely understaffed and that most officers lack the specialized training necessary to handle such emergencies safely.

Dozens of first responders from the Evansville Police Department and surrounding agencies recently completed a comprehensive 40-hour Crisis Intervention Team training program. The curriculum focused on de-escalation techniques and recognizing signs of mental illness to help officers resolve crisis calls more safely and compassionately.

The Marseilles Police Department is growing its Crisis Intervention Team to better support community members experiencing mental health emergencies. By increasing the number of specially trained officers, the department aims to provide a more effective, service-oriented response that prioritizes treatment over incarceration.

The Clayton County Police Department has implemented a co-responder program that pairs law enforcement officers with mental health clinicians to handle crisis calls. This initiative aims to provide immediate clinical support on-scene, ensuring that individuals experiencing mental health emergencies receive appropriate care rather than being funneled into the criminal justice system. By integrating behavioral health experts into the emergency response, the department can more accurately assess needs and de-escalate potentially volatile situations. The program also focuses on connecting residents with long-term community resources and follow-up services to prevent future crises. Ultimately, this collaborative approach seeks to improve safety for both the public and officers while reducing the burden on local jails and emergency rooms.

This video explains the fundamental "Memphis Model" of Crisis Intervention Teams, which was developed to improve how police officers interact with people experiencing mental health crises. It outlines the intensive 40-hour training process where officers learn to identify psychiatric symptoms and practice verbal de-escalation techniques. The summary highlights that CIT is not just a training program, but a community partnership involving law enforcement, mental health providers, and advocates. By diverting individuals from jails to treatment centers, the program seeks to reduce injuries to both officers and citizens while lowering recidivism rates. Ultimately, the video emphasizes that a well-implemented CIT program transforms the police department's role from purely enforcement to a vital link in the mental health care system.