HERSHEY, PA — Pennsylvania has invested more than $4.5 million over two years in crisis intervention programs that now operate in 45 of its 67 counties, as state officials seek to improve responses to behavioral health emergencies and connect more people with treatment rather than the criminal justice system.
The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) reported the progress Tuesday, October 27, during the 2026 Statewide Crisis Intervention Team Conference in Hershey, where officials also marked the first anniversary of a statewide training and technical assistance center.
The center received 108 requests for training and support during its first year, trained 65 county leaders and established a statewide steering committee to guide future crisis intervention efforts.
The initiative is part of the Shapiro administration’s broader effort to coordinate responses among police departments, behavioral health professionals, emergency personnel and community organizations.
Crisis Intervention Team programs, commonly known as CIT programs, train law enforcement officers and other responders to recognize behavioral health emergencies, de-escalate potentially dangerous situations and connect individuals with appropriate services.
The approach is intended to reduce unnecessary involvement with the criminal justice system while improving safety for people experiencing crises and the personnel responding to them.
“By bringing together law enforcement, mental health professionals, advocates, and community partners, CIT programs aim to ensure that those in crisis are met with understanding, safety, and support,” PCCD Executive Director Kirsten Kenyon said.
The statewide training center, launched in 2025 in partnership with the Council of State Governments Justice Center, provides counties with training resources, technical assistance, operational guidance and opportunities to exchange information.
During its first year, the center also hosted two statewide webinars and three virtual office-hour sessions for county officials to discuss implementation challenges and practices.
The $4.5 million in state investments over the past two years has supported the establishment, expansion and evaluation of CIT programs, including initiatives that pair law enforcement officers with behavioral health specialists.
Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Secretary Val Arkoosh emphasized the importance of coordinating emergency response with access to treatment.
“When someone is experiencing a behavioral health crisis, they need three things: someone to call, someone to respond, and somewhere to go,” Arkoosh said.
The statewide conference, organized by PCCD in collaboration with the Department of Human Services and the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania, attracted more than 250 participants.
Sessions addressed crisis walk-in centers, officer wellness, co-responder programs, embedded social workers, data collection and specialized intervention programs for young people and veterans.
State officials also recognized law enforcement officers and behavioral health professionals for their work in crisis response.
Philadelphia Police Sgt. Thomas Cain received a CIT Police Officer of the Year award. A 2022 CIT graduate, Cain has trained emergency dispatchers and instructed officers in the program’s 40-hour curriculum.
PCCD credited Cain with de-escalating a high-risk incident involving a suicidal individual in 2026. He also received a nomination for a lifesaving commendation after performing CPR on a child.
North Catasauqua Police Officer Samuel Safadi was also named a CIT Police Officer of the Year.
Safadi was recognized for resolving a November 2025 psychiatric emergency involving an armed individual through communication and de-escalation. He previously received a Meritorious Service Award and other recognition for his response.
Bobby Tanyer, lead CIT coordinator for the Westmoreland County Office of Behavioral Health and Development Services, received the CIT Coordinator of the Year award.
Tanyer oversees a regional program that expanded from two counties to 12 over three years. He also helped introduce Pennsylvania’s first 40-hour Youth CIT training program in partnership with NAMI Keystone Pennsylvania.
Jorge Collazo-Gonzalez, a behavioral health co-responder working with the Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office and Harrisburg police, received the Behavioral Health Practitioner of the Year award.
PCCD recognized his role in a May 26 incident involving a 17-year-old on Harrisburg’s Market Street Bridge. According to the agency, Collazo-Gonzalez spent nearly an hour establishing communication with the teenager before the individual agreed to move away from the ledge and accept assistance.
The Dauphin County Co-Responder Team also received the Co-Responder Program of the Year award.
Since its establishment in 2020, the team has expanded from two responders to a 10-member unit embedded in eight law enforcement agencies, while assisting additional departments throughout the county.
PCCD reported that the team has handled more than 20,000 crisis-related contacts, with relatively few resulting in criminal charges.
The program’s growth illustrates the state’s emphasis on integrating behavioral health expertise into emergency response, although CIT programs have not yet been established in 22 Pennsylvania counties.
State officials are continuing to develop training, technical assistance and regional partnerships to expand the availability of crisis intervention services across the commonwealth.
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