CIT Services

It’s Okay to ASK for a CIT Officer

The CIT program is a service to our community, so don’t be afraid to use it. If you find yourself in a situation where you need to call law enforcement to intervene with a person experiencing a mental health crisis, it’s okay to request a CIT officer.

How Family and Friends Can Assist CIT Officers When a Mental Health Crisis Occurs

Mental health crises are stressful for all parties involved. Some preparation before the crisis will help your friend or loved-one get the care needed as soon as possible.

  • Find out if CIT is part of your police department.
  • When calling for police assistance, ask for a CIT officer.
  • Keep a current list of medications and doctors’ names and offer it to the CIT officer when he/she arrives.
  • Meet the CIT officer outside if possible and fully explain the crisis and what you would like to happen.
  • Make the CIT officer(s) aware of anything you know that upsets the person in the crisis.
  • Keep all guns out of the home.
  • When the CIT officer arrives, advise them if the person is armed or has access to weapons. Remember, when weapons are involved, police concentrate on the possible threat of violence until it is neutralized.
  • Understand, the CIT officer(s) will probably ask you to wait in an area away from the person in a crisis. Let the officer do his or her job and only offer assistance if asked.
  • Be prepared to go to the hospital — but remember all CIT calls do not necessarily mean a trip to the hospital.
  • Get to know your police department. Introduce your family member or friend to the police when they are not in crisis. Call your police department and have CIT officer stop by your house when he/she has time or go to the police station when a CIT officer will be there.
  • Let your family member know the police are there to help.

Educate yourself about your family members’ or friends’ mental illness by requesting information from the NAMI Scranton and Northeast Region, an affiliate of theNational Alliance on Mental Illness.

NEPA CIT Co-Coordinators

Raymond T. Hayes

  • Retired Sgt, Pennsylvania State Police
  • NEPA CIT, The Advocacy Alliance
  • MHFA Instructor
  • Instructor, Keystone College

Marie Onukiavage 

  • NEPA CIT, The Advocacy Alliance
  • MHFA Instructor 
  • Executive Director, NAMI Scranton & Northeast Region

Advisory Council

NEPA Crisis Intervention Team Advisory Council

This council is comprised of organizations and individuals representing a wide range of disciplines and perspectives, who have operational decision making authority for their respective agencies and who possess a strong interest in improving the law enforcement relationships with persons with behavioral health issues.

Advisory Council Members

Lance M. Benedict, Sheriff, Susquehanna County

Donald Bergman, Chief, University of Scranton Police Department

Tim Betti, Warden, Lackawanna County Prison

Scott Constantini, Director of Behavioral Health Wright Center

Harry Coleman, Attorney

Carl Graziano, Chief of Police, Scranton

David Hahn, Director of Emergency Service

Edward Heffron, Ed.D, President/ CEO, Scranton Counselling Center

Carl Mosier, Community Service Specialist

Troop Commander, Pennsylvania State Police, Troop R Dunmore

 Edward Shoener, Deacon, Diocese of Scranton, St. Peters Cathedral

Timothy Trently, Chief of Police, Archbald Borough, President Lackawanna County Chiefs’ of Police

Jeremy Yale, Administrator, Lackawanna –Susquehanna BH/ID/EI

NEPA CIT Planning Team

This Team is comprised of individuals representing a wide range of disciplines and perspectives who have demonstrated strong commitment to the delivery and sustainability of CIT. This group includes individuals from law enforcement, first responders, corrections professionals, advocacy, consumer, family and mental health professionals. 

Planning Team Members

Joe Dombroski – Scranton PD

Carl Mosier – Certified Peer Specialist

Kevin Rude – University of Scranton PD

Danny Kapaks – Dunmore PD

Michelle Matyevich – Community Intervention Center

Paul Tomcyzk – Scranton PD

Eugene Ruddy – Lackawanna County Prison

John Trama – Lackawanna County Prison

Sinead O’Hare – Just Believe Recovery Center

Participating Departments & Agencies

View Participating Departments / Agencies
  • Archbald Police Department
  • Blakely Police Department
  • Carbondale Police Department
  • Clarks Summit Police Department
  • Dalton Police Department
  • Dalton Fire Department
  • Dickson City Police Department
  • Dunmore Police Department
  • Mayfield Police Department
  • Moosic Police Department
  • Moscow Police Department
  • Old Forge Police Department
  • Olyphant Police Department
  • Scranton Police Department
  • South Abington Police Department
  • Taylor Police Department
  • Throop Police Department
  • Waverly Police Department
  • University of Scranton Police Department
  • Pennsylvania State Police
  • Pennsylvania State Parole
  • Commonwealth EMS
  • Pennsylvania Ambulance
  • Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Office
  • Lackawanna County Juvenile Detention
  • Lackawanna County Mental Health Treatment Court
  • Lackawanna County Prison
  • Lackawanna County Probation & Parole
  • Lackawanna County Sheriff’s Department
  • Lackawanna County 911
  • Susquehanna County Sheriff’s Department
  • Susquehanna County Correctional Facility
  • Geisinger-CMC Security
  • State Correctional Institute at Waymart
  • National Park Service- Delaware Water Gap Recreation Area
  • Pathstone Corporation
  • Scranton Counseling Center
  • Allied Services
  • NHS
  • NAMI Scranton & Northeast Region
  • The Advocacy Alliance