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In a move designed to enhance their approach dealing with mental health emergencies, the Hawaiʻi Police Department (HPD) has reportedly bolstered its Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) with 18 freshly minted members. This crew, composed of 14 officers from HPD assigned to East Hawaiʻi and four deputies from the state Department of Law Enforcement Sheriff’s Division, has recently completed a comprehensive 40-hour CIT course in Hilo, which wrapped up with a recognition ceremony on October 17, according to an article from the Hawaiʻi Police Department. The training, sponsored by NAMI Hawaiʻi and other community allies, brings the total CIT-certified personnel within HPD to 98, accounting now for 22 percent of its sworn force. Detective Jason Grouns, who has been leading the CIT program since 2022, highlighted the impact of the initiative. "This isn’t just about a number; it’s about making a real difference in how we serve our community and support people in crisis," Grouns said, all having completed the intensive training in a statement released by the HPD. CIT programs are not merely another rung on the training ladder; they encapsulate a collaborative method aiming to furnish officers with the necessary capabilities to defuse high-tension encounters involving individuals who are navigating the turbulence of a mental health crisis. This training importantly stresses on practical communication, fostering empathy, and linking individuals to pertinent community resources. By doing so, the aim is to shrink the occasions where force is deemed necessary and concurrently augment the safety protocols for officers and civilians alike.
