Fox Valley Police Learn From Important Mental Health Training

AURORA, IL — Police are better equipped to deal with mental health issues in subjects they might come across on the job. The Kane County State’s Attorney and Sheriff hosted a 40-hour training Oct. 16 - 20. In the Kane County Sheriff’s Office, 26 officers listened to presentations from psychologists, social workers, former police officers and assistant state’s attorneys. There, they learned a new set of skills, including rethinking how words and body language are used to get help or defuse a potentially violent encounter, according to a press release from the State’s Attorney’s Office.

“Thanks to the members of the county board for generously funding this project,” said Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon. “It is so important for the overall health of a community that officers have the best possible tools at their disposal when they respond to a complex situation.” Crisis Intervention Team training for police officers is a national curriculum. It was developed by mental health experts, universities and police. Thirteen police agencies were represented including Aurora, North Aurora, Batavia, Elgin, Geneva and St. Charles.

Kane County Sheriff Don Kramer said, “It took over two years of collaboration ... to bring about having CIT training taught in-house. That means the training will be available to more officers with the possibility of having all 1,200 police officers in Kane County trained over the next five years.” A second training by the end of the is in the works, as well as four more in 2018.

Officers receive Crisis Intervention Training Oct. 16-20. Image courtesy of Kane County State's Attorneys Office