(Fort Myers, FL: November 6, 2009) - Lee Mental Health selected Fort Myers Police Officer Kristi Golba as the 2009 Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Officer of the Year. This is the third straight year the department has won the award. In 2008 Sergeant Ken Leach won the award and in 2007 Corporal Pete Woodhouse was the recipient. The board of directors makes their selection based on his involvement and commitment to the program. The award recognizes individuals who have gone above and beyond in their effort to support Lee Mental Health.
The CIT program teaches officers about mental illnesses, the local service delivery system and effective ways to de-escalate a person experiencing a crisis due to a mental illness. Training for the program involves visits to local mental health treatment facilities and interaction with people with mental illnesses and their families. The CIT program is proven to promote better public safety by reducing injuries to both citizens and to law enforcement officers when responding to calls involving a person with a mental health issue.