NORTH VERNON, Ind. – The Jennings County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) debuted its new Crisis Intervention Team over social media on Tuesday, December 2.
The JCSO Crisis Intervention Team is a specialized group of deputies trained to respond to mental health crises, receiving training focused on de-escalation, mental health awareness, and effective communication skills.
According to JCSO, the training includes:
- Recognizing signs of mental illness, substance use disorders, and developmental disabilities
- De-escalation techniques that are designed to reduce tension and prevent the need for force
- Effective communication strategies for highly emotional or unpredictable situations
- Suicide prevention and intervention skills
- Collaboration with local mental health providers and crisis resources
- Legal considerations, including emergency detention procedures and voluntary/involuntary treatment options
The new Crisis Intervention Team is comprised of Sgt. Michael Watts, Sgt. Kyle Lee, Detective Allen Ritchie, SRO Shawn Minton, Deputy John Hartman, and Deputy Alex Campbell.
