FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 2, 2016 Contact: Kraig Troxell, Public Information Officer, 703-771-5278 Kraig.Troxell@loudoun.gov Alex Kowalski, Public Information Officer, 703-777-0625 Aleksandra.Kowalski@loudoun.gov Loudoun County, VA- A Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant is one of only 80 people in the world to now be certified in crisis intervention by Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) International. Sgt. Linda Cerniglia recently attended the first-ever CIT International Certified Coordinator Course in Chicago, Ill. The class taught the attendees the best practices for crisis intervention team programs from across the United States, Canada, Australia and Great Britain. Sgt. Cerniglia, a 21-year-veteran of the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, is assigned to the Administrative & Technical Services Division, and is the agency’s CIT Coordinator. She is also a member of the Crisis Negotiation Team. “This training will enhance the Loudoun Crisis Intervention program with an even better understanding of the values of community needs, and the needs of the Loudoun County Mental Health, Substance Abuse, and Developmental Services,” said Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman. Sgt. Cerniglia was named Crisis Intervention Team Deputy of the Year in 2014 by the National Alliance on Mental Illness-Northern Virginia (NAMI). She was recognized for her work in establishing and supervising the first-ever Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) in Loudoun County. Since the implementation of crisis intervention in Loudoun County, over 237 deputies and 100% of dispatchers and call takers in the Emergency Communications Center have received the training. Crisis intervention helps prepare law enforcement officers and emergency dispatchers to calmly and effectively communicate with citizens experiencing a behavioral crisis. Additionally, the training includes intervention techniques for deputies or officers responding to scenes for a person who may be suicidal. The training includes classroom instruction and role play exercises which enable law enforcement personnel to gain a better understanding of the experience of living with serious mental illnesses. The classes are taught by Loudoun certified CIT Sheriff’s Deputies, mental health professionals and other experts within the field. During the training, students are introduced to medical, social, psychological and legal aspects associated with mental illness. Loudoun Sheriff Chapman helped facilitate developing crisis intervention training in the County after assessing the frequency of incidents involving mental illness, both in the community and within the Adult Detention Center. ###