The prescott valley police department will use FY24 safer outcomes funding to expand accessible crisis intervention team (CIT) training for first responders and mental health professionals countywide

The Prescott Valley Police Department will use $250,000 in FY24 funding from the U.S. Department of Justice's Public Safety Partnership and Community Policing Grants program (CFDA 16.710) to expand accessible Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training for first responders and mental health professionals countywide. The training will be led by Dr. Dara Rampersad, LPC, NCC, an internationally recognized CIT expert and chair of the Arizona CIT Coalition, through Bluepaz, LLC. This comprehensive approach aims to address multiple focus areas of the COPS Office grant program while fostering community trust and collaborative problem-solving, which are cornerstones of community-oriented policing. The program will benefit various law enforcement, fire, EMS, and mental health agencies in Yavapai County, complementing existing regional initiatives focused on improving justice and mental health outcomes.

DR. Dara rampersad, LPC, NCC, an internationally recognized CIT expert and chair of the arizona CIT coalition, will lead the training through bluepaz, LLC. This comprehensive approach addresses multiple safer outcomes focus areas while fostering community trust and collaborative problem-solving, cornerstones of community-oriented policing. The program will benefit different law enforcement agencies, fire and EMS agencies, and mental health professionals in yavapai county. IT complements existing initiatives such as the yavapai county justice and mental health coalition, criminal justice coalition, and community coordinated community response team.