Chief Brackney delivered the keynote address at a Crisis Intervention Team Academy graduation ceremony held at Hinds Behavioral Health Services, according to a post on Hinds Behavioral Health Services’ Facebook page.
The Crisis Intervention Team, or CIT, model trains law enforcement officers to recognize and respond to people experiencing mental health crises and to connect them with appropriate treatment and support rather than defaulting to arrest. Local and national law enforcement agencies and behavioral health providers widely adopt CIT-style training as a strategy to improve responses to mental health emergencies.
The presence of a law enforcement chief as keynote speaker highlights partnerships between public safety agencies and behavioral health organizations that organizers say are central to effective crisis response. Advocates contend such cooperation can help reduce unnecessary use of force and improve outcomes for people in crisis by steering them toward care and community resources.
Details about the ceremony, including the number of graduates or remarks from Chief Brackney, were not included in the post. We will provide more information as it becomes available.
