The Hawaiʻi County Police Department (HPD) has expanded its Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) with the addition of 18 new members including 14 East Hawaiʻi HPD officers, and four deputies from the state Department of Law Enforcement Sheriff’s Division.

Sponsored by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI Hawaiʻi) and other community partners, the training brings the total number of CIT-certified HPD officers to 98, representing 22 percent of the department’s sworn personnel.

The Crisis Intervention Team program is a collaborative approach that equips officers with the skills to de-escalate encounters involving individuals in crisis. The training emphasizes communication, empathy, and connection to appropriate community resources, helping reduce the need for force while improving safety for both officers and the public.

HPD Photo