The Maui Police Department’s Crisis Intervention Team welcomed 22 new members to its list of trained personnel after the they completed 40 hours of training last week. Maui Police Department photo

The Maui News

The Maui Police Department’s Crisis Intervention Team on Friday welcomed 22 new members to its list of trained personnel. 

The CIT class consisting of officers, recruits, dispatch, and civilian personnel from the Maui Police Department, Roberts Hawaii, Family Life Center, KHAKO, Salvation Army, Maui Economic Opportunity, and the Maui Humane Society completed 40 hours of training earlier during the week.

 Since the program first launched in 2013, this is the 13th class to complete the program.  

The hands-on training addresses how to interact with individuals potentially suffering from a mental illness or experiencing an emotional crisis, the news release said. 

It also focuses on de-escalating a situation before reaching a point of violence or self-harm while ensuring the individuals receive the appropriate response and care they need.

 The CIT training is part of the MPD’s Critical Outreach and Response through Education unit that works with community agencies on issues that include houseless individuals and those potentially suffering from mental illness.

The program was the first of its kind in the state and now consists of  210 individuals ranging from MPD and Maui Fire Department officers, Sheriff’s Office, Maui Memorial Medical Center security staff, Hawaii State Judiciary, Maui Prosecutor’s Office, Maui Community Correctional Center officers, Maui Community Mental Health Center, National Park Service, Family Life Center, the County of Maui Department of Transportation, Roberts Hawaii, Department of Education, Salvation Army, KHAKO, Maui Aloha Foundation, MEO, Adult Mental Health, Maui Humane Society, Project Vision, MPD’s Multi-Cultural Advisory Counsel, security staff from Queen Ka’ahumanu Center, Fairmont Kea Lani, Honua Kai Resort and Spa, Puamana Community Association, Four Season Resorts Maui at Wailea, and Montage.

 The team was the fifth class trained and the fifth class in the state to start since the COVID-19 pandemic under the guidance of Dr. Alicia Rodriguez, Law Enforcement Clinical Psychologist of Waves of Insight.  

 Guest agencies included instructors and representatives from Aloha House, Aloha Psychological Services, Bo Mahoe, Child and Adult Mental Health Division, Consumers & Family Panel, County of Maui Department of Transportation, Family Life Center, Hale Pono Youth Center, Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Joey Fernandez, John Tomoso, Ka Hale A Ke Ola Homeless Resource Center, Maui Community Mental Health Center, MMMC Emergency Room, and MPD’s Molokini Unit — CIT Members, Mental Health America, Mental Health Kokua, NAMI, Roberts Hawaii, State of Hawaii Department of Health-Maui District Office, The Queen’s Medical Center, Tony Lopez and Waves of Insight.