Police-Encounters-With-People-In-Crisis

for those with serious mental illnesses. The research further indicates CIT
reduces the frequency of injuries experienced by officers. 47
(h)
(i)
(j)
In-Service Training: In-service training must be implemented. Additional
knowledge and skills training should be offered to CIT officers on a regular
basis, on topics such as suicide intervention, developmental disabilities,
advanced verbal skills training, advanced scenario training, and new
developments in psychiatric medications. 48
Recognition: A recognition and honours system should be established. CIT
officers who have served with exceptional care and compassion, ensuring
the safety of themselves and others, should be recognized for their
distinguished service. 49
Outreach: Through community outreach, larger coordinated efforts can be
undertaken and best practices and current research can be shared. 50
3. Hamilton’s combination of CIT, MCIT and COAST
60. The Hamilton Police Service employs three response options—CIT, MCIT, and
COAST—to address the panoply of issues that arise in helping people in crisis.
61. Hamilton’s COAST program was established in 1997, based on Vancouver’s ACT
model, discussed above. It is centered out of St. Joseph’s Health Centre in Hamilton,
and sees a team of psychiatric nurses, mental health workers, social workers,
occupational therapists, and plain-clothed police officers respond 24/7 to people in
crisis, and assist front line officers who are conducting arrests under section 17 of the
Mental Health Act. COAST units will attend a scene or provide expertise by phone when
requested by officers. They also operate their own 24/7 telephone line that people in
crisis can call for help. COAST receives approximately 4,500 requests for service
annually, and handles approximately one-quarter of Hamilton’s crisis calls. 51
62. In 2006, Hamilton implemented the Memphis CIT model to supplement the
capabilities of the COAST program. Hamilton’s CIT officers have specialized training in
mental health, and attend calls when a COAST unit is unable to respond for one of the
following reasons: a barricaded person or a weapon poses a security risk to mental
health professionals; a COAST unit cannot reach the scene in a sufficiently rapid
timeframe; or the incident happens overnight when COAST is only available by phone. 52
47
Id. at 37-38; Randolph Dupont, Sam Cochran & Sarah Pillsbury, Crisis Intervention Team Core Elements, (Memphis: The
University of Memphis School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice CIT Center,
2007) at 17.
48
Compton, Collaboration, supra note 37 at 38.
49
Ibid.
50
Id. at 39.
51
Staff Sgt. Howard Tran, “Data Collection and Collaborative Measures of Success & Outcomes” (PowerPoint presented to the
“Balancing Individual Safety, Community Safety and Quality of Life Conference”, Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police and
Mental Health commission of Canada, Toronto, 24-26 March 2014) [Tran, “Data Collection”].
52
Hamilton Police Service, Hamilton CIT 2007 Summary, “Crisis Intervention Team or CIT” (Hamilton: Hamilton Police Service,
2007) at 2; “Crisis Outreach and Support Team “ (Hamilton, 2014): ; ibid.
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