Resources

• New Hanover County Sherriff's Department
  • Tonya N. Baker
  • Curtis J. Barnhill
  • Kristin L. Blanchard
  • Jennifer E. Calarco
  • Neal L. Chapman
  • Joseph A. Cina
  • Christopher P. Cottie
  • Richard D. Croom
  • Monica Dryhurst
  • Steven Gagnon
  • Mario Gonzalez
  • Charles E. Gore, III
  • Kimberly R. Irvin
  • Burell O. Jackson
  • Edna Johnson
  • Christina L. O'Neal
  • Dominic P. Segers
  • Justin Stegal
  • Christopher Wright
• Wilmington Police Department
  • Jeremy D. Barsaleau
  • Kevin B. Brown
  • Justin L. Ovaska
  • Adam J. Phillips
  • Paul B. Raspet
  • Donald F. Smith, Jr.
  • Alejandra Sotelo

Mental Illness can affect anyone-no matter what age, sex, gender, or ethnic background-and it strikes more people than cancer or diabetes.  And now, there are eleven more Crisis Intervention Trained officers in New Hanover and Brunswick County, who can offer help when someone gets into a crisis situation.

Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) is 40 (forty) hours of law enforcement training to teach the signs of mental illness, de-escalation, and provide resources to get into treatment.

Officers graduated on January 29, 2010 and are putting their CIT skills to use-helping a woman who was suicidal and overdosed; a man threatening suicide; and another man who was in crisis and was able to be calmed with kind words.

Research demonstrates that CIT diverts people from jail and into community services. Early identification and treatment is of vital importance; by getting people the treatment they need early, recovery is accelerated and the brain is protected from further harm related to the course of illness. (National Institute of Mental Health)