The Asbury Park Police Department has been invited to participate in the Attorney General’s Crisis Intervention Team Center of Excellence pilot program. The program includes five other law enforcement agencies from around the state of New Jersey. The Asbury Park department, however, is the only agency represented in Monmouth County.
As part of Governor Murphy’s Excellence in Policing initiative, Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training has been expanded statewide. The intensive 40-hour training program is designed to reduce injury or death to officers, family members and individuals in psychiatric crisis, while building a partnership between law enforcement and the local community mental health system.
“Governor Murphy’s Excellence in Policing initiative is designed to help the ongoing effort of strengthening trust between law enforcement and community,” said Mayor John Moor, “We are pleased that Asbury Park Police Department has been chosen as a participant in CIT training which will provide our officers with tools to assist in responding to situations involving individuals experiencing a mental health crisis.”
“We’re thankful to be invited by the Attorney General to participate in this unique program involving both law enforcement officers and mental health professionals,” said Police Chief David Kelso, “CIT training will help our officers work together with the Asbury Park mental health community to help citizens experiencing mental health crises.”
For more information on the Attorney General’s Excellence in Policing Program, visit https://www.nj.gov/oag/excellence/
For more information on Asbury Park Police Department, visit www.cityofasburypark.com/appd.