Lake Zurich Crisis Intervention Team Officers

Quick Facts:

Name of coordinating law enforcement agency:
Lake Zurich Police Department
Approximate number of officers in agency:
38
Primary specialized response:
Police officers are trained to provide crisis intervention services and to act as liaisons to the mental health system.
Program start year:
2005 or earlier
Total number of officers in program:
8

Lake Zurich Crisis Intervention Team Officers

Contact:

Name:
Lake Zurich Police Department
Title:
Deputy Chief - Support Services
Organization:
Lake Zurich Police Department
Address:
200 Mohawk Trail
lake Zurich, IL
Email:
Patrick.Finlon@volz.org
Phone:
847-540-5058

Agency Information

Name of coordinating law enforcement agency:
Lake Zurich Police Department
Type of government that operates law enforcement agency:
Township
Approximate number of officers in agency:
38

Specialized Response Description

Program start year:
2005 or earlier
Primary specialized response:
Police officers are trained to provide crisis intervention services and to act as liaisons to the mental health system.
Secondary specialized response:
There is only one specialized response program in the jurisdiction.
Background information:
The Lake County State's Attorney's Office and Lake County Department of Mental Health coordinated the Crisis Intervention Team initiative. Training for police officers was accomplished through the Lake County Chiefs of Police Association and Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board. A model policy for Department Crisis Intervention Officers was developed through a sub-committee of th eLake County Chiefs of Police Association.
Total number of officers in program:
8
Number of people with mental illness served:
51-100
Catchment area:
The entire jurisdiction
Funding source(s):
  • Police Department
  • Local Mental Health Department
    • Staff supported by funding:
  • Law Enforcement Officer
  • MH Service Provider (e.g. case manager, social worker)

    • Program Partners and Personnel

    Existence of planning and oversight committee:
    Yes, formerly
    Committee participants:
    • Law enforcement supervisory-level staff
    • Law enforcement leadership
    • Mental health (and/or substance abuse) leadership
    Mental health or advocacy agencies that participate in program:
    Lake County Department of Mental Health
    Written agreement of roles and procedures:
    No
    Recruitment and selection:
    Officers volunteer and some are selected.
    Program coordinator/boundary spanner
    Yes. The program coordinator represents a mental health agency
    In Lake County, Illinois it would be David Schanding (847) 377-8297, Lake County Department of Mental Health.

    Training on Mental Health Issues

    Types of training on mental health issues:
  • 2 hours
  • Advanced in-service training for select patrol officers
  • 40 hours
    • Number of officers who receive advanced training:
    1-50
    Groups who conducts advanced training:
    • Police officers
    • Mental health professionals (crisis workers)
    • Medical professionals (doctors or nurses)
    • Consumers
    • Family member of a person with mental illness
    Advanced training topics:
  • Recognizing symptoms of mental illness, and clinical issues
  • Co-occurring disorders
  • Psychiatric medications
  • Legal issues concerning individuals with mental illness
  • Legal issues concerning police officer liability
  • De-escalation techniques
    • Advanced training methods:
    • Presentations (including panels, lectures, and/or PowerPoints)
    • Role plays
    • Videotapes
    Other information on training:
    Other topics that are discussed in the training are: homeless issues, substance abuse, child and adolescent disorders, geriatric issues, medical issues that mimic mental illness. The Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board developed and funded the program/cirriculum.

    Response Procedures

    Standardized dispatch questions:
    No
    Dispatch documentation:
  • Document in central computer database used for all calls, such as a Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system
  • Document in paper files
    • Incident documentation by responding officer:
  • Relay information to dispatch who records it in general computer database used for all calls, such as a Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system
  • Record information in a field encounter form, or other form used to document every citizen encounter
    • Use of information on individuals' mental illness stored in police records:
    Detailed information isn't stored in the CAD system, only behaviors and actions taken are.
    Mental health professional available to support police responder:
  • Yes, remotely by telephone or dispatch (e.g. a crisis worker or psychiatric emergency room personnel)
    • Officers permitted to transport people with mental illness to services when:
  • The person has volunteered to receive mental health treatment
  • The person is being brought to a hospital for emergency evaluation
    • Officers allowed to transport a person without handcuffs:
    If the subject is under arrest or acting-out violently the individual would be restrained. Otherwise, it's an officer judgement issue. The primary concern is officer safety.
    Access to drop-off locations:
    Yes. It is open 24 hours a day.
    Procedure for streamlined intake and a "no refusal" policy for police referrals?
    No
    Location of drop-off center(s):
  • General hospital emergency room
    • Drop-off center accepts people with co-occurring substance abuse disorders:
    Yes
    Length of time for drop-off and return to patrol:
    31-45 minutes

    Program Sustainability

    Data collection:
    No
    Published evaluation:
    No
    Local media coverage:
    Waukegan News Sun - March 19, 2005
    Legislative funding or support:
    Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board
    About this information:

    A program representative provided this information details through a detailed survey.

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