Create a Crisis Intervention Team

Dear Editor,

I attended the Chesterfield Board of Supervisors' meeting on May 26, where FACES, a mental health education and advocacy nonprofit, presented a petition of over 1,100 citizen signatures requesting funding of comprehensive Crisis Intervention Team [CIT] training in Chesterfield County. CIT training has a proven track record in the best methods of improving outcomes when the police interact with a person with a mental illness who is in crisis.

I was impressed by the efforts of FACES to make Chesterfield County safer for law enforcement and the mentally ill. Many surrounding areas, including Henrico [County] and Richmond, have initiated these trainings. Since the local press did not cover news of this rather large petition, I wanted citizens of the Chesterfield County to be aware of the efforts by groups and individuals in the county to support the funding of a CIT. Marie Stella Brandermill