Courses and Curriculum
Core Curriculum
The following topics are presented during the 40-hour Officer Training. All are presented from the perspective of a law enforcement environment:
• Introduction to CIT and Officer Safety
• Psychoses
• Affective Disorders
• Anxiety Disorders
• Developmental Disabilities
• Personality Disorders
• Adolescent Issues
• Suicide Issues and Intervention
• Suicide by Cop
• Psychopharmacology (Medications)
• Mental Health Law
• Introduction to the Basic Model
• Consumer Perspectives
• Family Perspectives
• Community Resources
• Policies & Procedures
• Less Lethal Techniques
Experiential Learning is critical to CIT Training. The following classes involve experiential learning through role-play scenarios. These are real life situations in which the student must use what has been taught to work through the situation and solve the scenario in the best manner possible. Every student will participate in three scenarios - a Basic, a Moderate, and an Advanced.
• Verbal Techniques with Basic Practicum
• De-Escalation Strategies and Advanced Verbal Techniques with Moderate Practicum
• Complex De-Escalation Strategies with Advanced Practicum
Another core component of our CIT Training is the site visits. For one entire day, we visit different sites and meet with persons with mental illnesses or other possible crises. The students interact with these persons, asking and answering questions in a group setting. The following are our core site visits:
•
Behavioral Medicine and Addictive Disorders, Dr. Mitchell Young, PTSD, Substance Abuse
• Harmony House, Monroe Area Guidance Center, Brenda Fleming, Psychoses, Affective Disorders, Residential Programs
• Peer Support Center, formerly known as the Monroe Resource Center, Kaye McKnight, Drop In Center
• Louisiana State University E. A. Conway Hospital, Emergency Room, Lisa Griffin, Emergency Room Observation Area and Procedures
Instructors
Our instructors are experts in their fields. They do not present the information from a textbook framework only. They teach with a law enforcement perspective in mind. They emphasize the real world situations and implications. The following are our core instructors and the agencies that they represent:
• Detective Mark Johnson, Monroe Police Department, CIT Co-Coordinator
• Dr. Mkay Bonner, Bonner Solutions & Services, APC, CIT Co-Coordinator
• Dr. Larry Baum, Northeast Delta CIT Task Force, NAMI
• Dr. Lance Nickelson, University of Louisiana at Monroe
• Mr. Mark DeBord, Office of Mental Health
• Ms. Kitty Kervin, University of Louisiana at Monroe
• Ms. Jamie Archibald, E. H. Baker, Ph.D. and Associates
• Mr. Chuck Archibald, Northeast Delta CIT Task Force
• Mr. Chris Stone, Volunteers of America
• Mr. Darrell Oliveaux, Attorney at Law
• Ms. Jan Wawryzniak, United Way 211
• Mr. Ben Shockley, Liberty Behavioral Hospital
• Ms. Suzanne Hatcher, Office of Mental Health
• Ms. Kay Ashley, Office of Mental Health
• Officer Marie Knight, West Monroe Police Department
• Corporal Chuck Johnson, Monroe Police Department
• Detective Mike Fendall, Monroe Police Department
• Corporal Tobyn Berry, Monroe Police Department
• Corporal Jerry Melton, Monroe Police Department
• Deputy Lucille Kennedy, Morehouse Parish Sheriff's Office
• Deputy Lee Cleveland, Morehouse Parish Sheriff's Office
• Deputy Scott Culp, Morehouse Parish Sheriff's Office
• Deputy Chris Balsamo, Morehouse Parish Sheriff's Office
• Deputy Rebecca Wallace, Morehouse Parish Sheriff's Office
• Dr. James Arey, New Orleans Police Department
