Three members of the Rockbridge County Sheriff’s Office recently graduated from the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Training program - Deputy David McCreery, Deputy Haley Clark, and Investigator Ryan McCullough.
The deputies completed the intensive 40-hour CIT training led by Rockbridge Area Community Services (RACS), with support from the Sheriff’s Office and other community partners. This specialized program provides law enforcement personnel with the tools needed to effectively respond to and de-escalate situations involving individuals in crisis.
“CIT training is critical for our deputies and for our community. It not only helps law enforcement recognize when someone is in crisis, but also teaches us how to communicate effectively so people feel seen, heard, and valued,” said Sheriff Tony McFaddin.
McFaddin also noted the impact of this training across the agency: “Currently, 96% of our staff is trained in CIT. This has greatly improved our response to help people in crisis and enhanced our ability to de-escalate volatile situations.”
The training covered a broad range of topics, including mental illness and
psychiatric disorders, substance use and co-occurring disorders, developmental disabilities, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), suicide prevention and intervention theory, psychotropic medications and treatment, patient rights, civil commitment law, and mental health court.
McFaddin added: “This training emphasizes compassionate intervention, effective communication, and crisis de-escalation techniques — all vital skills that strengthen public safety and community trust.”
MEMBERS of the Rockbridge County Sheriff’s Office who recently completed CIT training were (from left) Deputy David McCreery, Deputy Haley Clark, and Investigator Ryan McCullough.
