What is a MICT Officer?
Mental Illness Crisis Team officers have received additional training to help individuals who may be in a mental health crisis. Each patrol squad has one officer designated as a MICT Officer. These officers take the lead on calls for service that involve a possible mental health situation. They have had additional mental health and de-escalation training along with a strong passion for helping individuals who may be in a crisis.
While MICT officers have received additional mental health training, all HPD officers have or will go through Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) and Integrating Communications, Assessment, and Tactics (ICAT). Both of these training programs provide officers with de-escalation techniques that help work toward positive resolutions for all parties involved. Currently, 89% of our sworn personnel have been trained in CIT, and 90% have been trained in ICAT.
Check out this news article from WHSV-TV3 in Harrisonburg.
For further details on how mental health calls for service are handled, please contact our non-emergency line at 540-434-4436 and ask to speak with a MICT officer.
Meet HPD's MICT Officers:
| A Squad- Officer Hensley | B Squad- Officer Denneny | C Squad- Officer Lanphier | D Squad- Officer Valencia |
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Mental Health Co-responders
As part of an ongoing effort to support those facing a mental health crisis, HPD is adding two mental health co-responder positions: a licensed clinician and a qualified mental health professional (QMHP). A major aspect of the co-responder program will be for HPD’s mental health professionals to join officers on calls for service where mental health may be a factor, to better assess the needs of individuals in crisis and assist officers in handling the call. These positions are funded by a grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance to further support responding officers and those facing a mental health crisis. The overall goal of the project and its specific objectives are posted below. More information will be publicized about these positions when the application processes open, which should be by early November 2024.
Overall Goal: Improve the diversion of individuals with mental health and substance use challenges from arrest and unnecessary hospitalization and increase access to treatment.
Objectives:
- Create a new co-response program within the HPD, comprised of one Clinician and one Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP)
- Expand field-based assessment to better connect individuals to community-based mental health, substance use, and other support services
- Increase follow-up with individuals released from the crisis assessment center, hospitals, or jails
- Increase Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) refresher and advanced topics training among HPD officers
- Expand data tracking, coordination, and utilization across regional justice and mental health partners
Resources:
Harrisonburg-Rockingham Community Service Board (CSB)
540-434-1941 Office
540-434-1766 Emergency Services
Sentara Behavioral Health 540-564-5100
Western State Hospital 540-332-8000
JMU Counseling Center 540-568-1735
Strength in Peers 540-208-2941 Resource Guides
Region 1 Children's Mobile Crisis [60KB] 1-800-970-5897
Suicide Hotline 988
If you or anyone you know are having a mental health crisis or need to speak with someone, please dial 988 to reach the suicide and crisis lifeline.