Oftentimes veterans will only talk to another veteran during a crisis from a sense of commonality. The Veterans Response Team (VRT) Training teaches military veteran first responders, who are also CIT trained, how to effectively and peacefully resolve incidents involving a veteran in crisis. Officers learn to leverage their law enforcement training and their shared military experiences with the veteran in crisis to deescalate the event and prevent violence. Emphasis is placed on connecting veterans with locally available resources designed to improve the health and wellbeing of the veteran, unnecessary incarceration rates, and establishing a network of officers trained to respond to a veteran in crisis.
We want to thank the BC CIT graduates who are attending the 2 day VRT Training Program today and tomorrow in Atlantic County on behalf of CIT Bergen County NJ – Sgt. John Dilkes, Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, P.O. Andres Enriquez, Bergenfield Police Department, BC CIT Law Enforcement Coordinator Sgt. Sara Toro, Bergen County Sheriff’s Office and P.O. Marvin Monroig, Garfield Police Department.
Original source can be found here.
