CIT OFFICERS

Mental and behavioral health crises sometimes result in 911 calls for assistance. Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Officers have received additional, focused training on mental health and behavioral health issues specifically as they pertain to law enforcement officers—including de-escalation techniques. Officers learn firsthand from behavioral health specialists as well as individuals with mental illnesses and their family members. Though training cannot prevent all crisis situations from escalating, CIT officers are available as a resource on calls involving persons in a mental health crisis to provide immediate aid in potentially dangerous situations.

The Elmhurst Police Department’s (Crisis Intervention Team) is part of the DuPage CIT Officers Association. The association’s mission is to hold training for DuPage County CIT Officers, to provide legal updates and best practice solutions, and to promote relationships between CIT Officers and provide a forum for them to share experiences and receive input from other involved agencies (the State’s Attorney’s Office, NAMI, the Health Department, hospitals, etc.).
Social Worker and CounselingThe Elmhurst Police Department partners with Hahn and Associates to offer counseling services when needed. Stephen Buhr, a licensed clinical social worker, works part-time for the Police Department in addition to providing counseling and social services to the community.

Stephen helps address problems at their core and is on call for Department needs; he has responded to assist in crisis counseling, death notifications, and various types of domestic trouble. Stephen keeps an office at the Elmhurst Police Station where he is able to offer private one-on-one or family counseling to address issues that are discovered and reported to him by police officers as they respond to calls in the community. Stephen has provided counseling on domestic violence, child abuse and/or neglect, teenage pregnancy, elder abuse and/or neglect, substance abuse, job loss, depression/anxiety, coping with grief, couples problems, and teenage bullying.

Stephen also offers his services to employees of the Police Department who might experience a tragedy of some sort, whether on or off-duty, that they would require some help for in processing their emotions in order to make a full recovery. We are proud to partner with Stephen to provide these necessary services in Elmhurst, and we appreciate his contributions to keeping our community healthy.