JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Training law enforcement officers in de-escalation techniques is vital.

The goal of Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training is to provide information on signs and symptoms of mental illnesses and de-escalation techniques.

The 40-hour intensive training program equips law enforcement officers with the tools they need when dealing with a person experiencing mental health issues. The training model was developed in Memphis, Tennessee and has been endorsed by law enforcement, mental health providers, consumers of mental health services and their families.

“But one thing I’ve heard say before is that you can’t treat us without us being involved in that meeting,” said Dr. Tiffany Anderson, CIT training coordinator. “How are we going to implement interventions for individuals who need help without their input of what they need?”

On Friday, a Jackson police officer was hospitalized after he was hit by a car while responding to a call involving a mental health patient.

“Mobile crisis goal is to limit the interaction of the mentally ill has with law enforcement. So of course, we want to see these, but if we feel like that imminent danger is there, the individual may have a weapon or something that we are expert law enforcement to respond with us,” said Jamie Evans, Mobile Crisis Response leader.

Anderson said she has seen a dramatic decrease in fatalities involving law enforcement and those experiencing a mental health crisis.

“We train our officers to see people as people. That people are not their mental illness, and they’re not their mental health diagnosis,” she said.

Hinds Behavioral Health Services, the Jackson Police Department (JPD) and the Mississippi Department of Mental Health are a few of the Hinds County CIT partners.