CRISIS INTERVENTION TRAINING (CIT)

For the purposes of this chapter:

(1) The term "crisis intervention training" means training designed to provide tools and resources to Washington state law enforcement personnel in order to respond effectively to individuals who may be experiencing an emotional, mental, physical, behavioral, or chemical dependency crisis, distress or problem and that are designed to increase the safety of both criminal justice personnel and individuals in crisis.

(2) The term "crisis intervention team training" means a forty-hour crisis intervention training and is equivalent in meaning to the enhanced crisis intervention training referenced in RCW 43.101.427(3).

(3) "Peace officer" means any law enforcement personnel subject to the basic law enforcement training requirement of RCW 43.101.200 and any other requirements of that section, notwithstanding any waiver or exemption granted by the commission, and notwithstanding the statutory exemption based on date of initial hire under RCW 43.101.200. Commissioned officers of the Washington state patrol, whether they have been or may be exempted by rule of the commission from the basic training requirement of RCW 43.101.200, are included as peace officers for purposes of this chapter. Fish and wildlife officers with enforcement powers for all criminal laws under RCW 77.15.075 are peace officers for purposes of this chapter.

(1) The following law enforcement personnel are subject to the requirements of this chapter:

(a) All general authority Washington peace officers;

(b) Reserve peace officers who have completed a reserve academy as per WAC 139-05-810 or 139-05-825; and

(c) Certified tribal police officers as defined in RCW 43.101.157.

(2) Annually, every peace officer must complete the commission's two-hour online crisis intervention course as part of the officer's annual twenty-four-hour in-service training requirement (WAC 139-05-300). Successful completion will include a passing score of eighty percent or higher on the online test given at the conclusion of the training.

(3) Each recruit as part of the basic law enforcement academy or Washington state patrol academy will successfully complete the eight-hour block of crisis intervention training. (RCW 43.101.427)

(4) Every general authority Washington peace officer that did not complete eight-hours of crisis intervention training as part of their basic law enforcement academy or Washington state patrol academy shall complete a training of not less than eight hours and shall be substantially similar in hours and content to the training offered through the basic training academy, or show proof of successful completion of an enhanced CIT program after January 1, 2008. Each attendee of the program shall be required to obtain written proof of completion of the program as provided by rules of the commission. (RCW 43.101.427)

(1) Agencies seeking to provide the eight-hour crisis intervention training shall receive a certification from the commission and use commission-certified curricula and instructors.

(2) Agencies must use commission-approved curricula that contains at the minimum the following subject matter:

(a) Signs and symptoms of common mental health issues encountered by law enforcement personnel;

(b) Recommended crisis intervention techniques for common behavioral health and substance use disorder issues; and

(c) Deescalation skills.

(1) Agencies seeking to provide the forty-hour crisis intervention team training shall receive a certification from the commission and use commission-certified curricula and instructors.

(2) Agencies must use commission-approved curricula that contains at the minimum the following subject matter:

(a) Signs and symptoms of common mental health issues encountered by law enforcement;

(b) Crisis intervention techniques for common behavioral health and substance use disorder issues;

(c) Deescalation skills;

(d) Suicide prevention;

(e) Elders in crisis;

(f) Developmental and intellectual disabilities;

(g) Community resources;

(h) Interactions with community members with a mental health diagnosis;

(i) Commonly prescribed psychotropic medications; and

(j) Mock scenes or other practical exercises for students to demonstrate proficiency.

Any request for exemption, waiver, extension, or variance from any requirement of this chapter must be made under WAC 139-03-030.