To the editor:

Thanks for the recent article in the Journal-World about the Crisis Intervention Team training for police. I serve on the CIT Planning Committee and am involved with the National Alliance for Mental Illness and the Justice Matters Mental Health Research Team.

I want to say thank you to and applaud the Lawrence Police Department, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, the KU Public Safety Patrol Unit, and the Eudora and Baldwin City Police Departments for having their staff participate in the CIT classes in our county these past three years.

Now that our officers are better able to identify those in a mental illness or substance abuse crisis, they can use de-escalating and other appropriate skills to try to defuse the situation. For many in a crisis, they will still need to be taken to a treatment center where the person in crisis can receive the appropriate care.

We have an opportunity in the Douglas County election on Nov. 6 to vote on the proposed behavioral health recovery campus, which includes a crisis center, supportive housing and prevention programs for those dealing with a mental illness or substance abuse issue. Thanks to our county commissioners for this opportunity.

Bill Wood,

Lawrence