The city of Las Vegas Department of Public Safety recently hosted its first internal Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training, a nationally recognized, Nevada POST-certified 36-hour course designed to enhance officers’ ability to effectively respond to individuals experiencing mental health crises.
In partnership with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Southern Nevada and led by retired Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Officer and Crisis Negotiator Andy DiPalma, this training provided a comprehensive, multi-day curriculum focused on both knowledge and application.
The course covered critical topics such as active listening and communication skills (modeled after the FBI), suicide prevention, stress management and recognizing behavioral health conditions including PTSD, autism and substance use disorders. Officers also received training on overdose response, including Narcan deployment, and gained an understanding of the mental health court process and legal considerations surrounding crisis response. Officers participated in simulations focused on effective communication. Additionally, the curriculum included engagement with community resources and individuals with lived experience, providing officers with valuable perspective on what individuals in crisis are experiencing and how law enforcement response can directly impact outcomes.
As part of this initiative, the Department’s long-term goal is to ensure that all personnel are CIT-trained. Building a workforce equipped with these skills creates consistency in response, strengthens decision-making in the field and reinforces a culture of professionalism and empathy across all divisions.
This training is especially critical in Southern Nevada, where law enforcement regularly encounters individuals experiencing mental health crises, substance use issues and co-occurring conditions. CIT training strengthens partnerships with local hospitals, behavioral health providers and the mental health court system, allowing officers to connect individuals to appropriate services and improve long-term outcomes.
Officers who have had this training are better equipped to slow down situations, communicate effectively and reduce the likelihood of force by increasing voluntary compliance with those experiencing crisis.