The Shadow
COVINGTON, Va. (VR) — Inside Good News Church last week, a tense scene played out as a man threatening to harm himself refused to cooperate. Instead of rushing in, responders slowed things down, using crisis intervention skills to guide him toward the help he needed.
While the situation was part of a training exercise, the lessons are very real. From March 23–27, Alleghany Highlands Community Services partnered with the Covington Police Department and the Alleghany County Sheriff’s Office to provide a 40-hour Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Basic Training.
Three sheriff’s deputies, two Covington police officers, and three clinicians completed the course.
CIT training helps law enforcement recognize mental health and substance use crises and respond in ways that reduce stress, lower the likelihood of force, and connect individuals to appropriate care.
“The difference between a situation getting worse or getting better often comes down to how we respond,” said Bill Krafft, Alleghany Highlands CIT Supervisor. “This training gives police the tools to slow things down, build trust, and help people when it’s needed most.”
Participants spent the week engaging in classroom instruction and hands-on scenarios, practicing how communication, patience, and awareness can change the outcome of a call. The training also brought law enforcement and clinicians together, strengthening partnerships that extend well beyond the classroom.
In communities like the Alleghany Highlands, these partnerships and the skills developed can make a lasting difference when someone is at their most vulnerable.
Anyone experiencing a mental health crisis is encouraged to call the Alleghany Highlands Community Services Board at 800-446-0128, dial 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or, in an emergency, call 911 and request a CIT-trained officer.
