CIT officer
Pronunciation: C-I-T officer
Also written as: CIT — Crisis Intervention Team
Crisis Intervention Team police officer specially trained in mental health crisis de-escalation and emergency psychiatric procedures.
Full Definition
A law enforcement officer who has completed specialized Crisis Intervention Team training to respond effectively to mental health emergencies. CIT officers receive approximately 40 hours of training in psychiatric conditions, de-escalation techniques, and community mental health resources. They serve as liaisons between police departments and emergency psychiatric services, often transporting patients to treatment facilities and providing testimony for commitment proceedings. Emergency psychiatry teams frequently collaborate with CIT officers during crisis responses.
Usage
Usage note: Capitalize CIT as it's an acronym; lowercase 'officer' unless part of a formal title.
In Context
- "The CIT officer successfully de-escalated the situation before transport to the emergency department." — Incident report
- "Request a CIT officer for all psychiatric emergency calls when available." — Police procedure manual