Crisis Intervention Team

There are nine Purdue police officers specially trained to safely de-escalate contacts with mentally ill persons and work with the mental health system in Tippecanoe County to get help for people in need. The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) is a county-wide effort that involves the hospitals, counselors, courts, and over 30 law enforcement officers from various local agencies. All officers are provided training to help them recognize when a person's actions may be a result of a mental health issue, and they are encouraged to involve CIT members to help bring the situation to a successful resolution for the person in distress and the community.

The CIT program at the Purdue University Police Department is led by Sergeant Lesley Wiete, who is also a board member on the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI). The program helps people by focusing on the root problem causing their behavior and seeking to get them professional help.