The Honolulu Police Department (HPD) is strengthening its response to mental health–related calls through its Crisis Intervention Team (CIT), a collaboration between law enforcement, mental health professionals and community advocates.
In partnership with NAMI Hawai‘i and the Hawai‘i Health & Harm Reduction Center (HHHRC), the program provides officers with specialized training to recognize signs of a mental health crisis and respond with empathy, patience and effective de-escalation strategies. Since expanding the program, many HPD officers have successfully applied their training in real-life situations.
One example occurred in April 2024 when Officer Tiare Perry became the first recipient of Hawai‘i’s CIT Officer Award. Perry responded to a call involving a distraught woman on the ledge of a 32nd-floor bathroom window. Despite her own fear of heights, Perry used her training to connect with the woman and safely bring her inside, preventing what could have been a fall of more than 300 feet. She later received HPD’s Certificate of Merit and First Responder of the Year award.
On Sept. 1, 2025, District 1 officers responded to reports of a woman drinking and sitting on the ledge of a fourth-floor parking structure. Recognizing a mental health crisis, they requested a CIT-certified officer. When the officer arrived, the woman expressed thoughts of ending her life and began to withdraw from conversation. Drawing on their training, the officer calmly guided her away from the ledge and to safety, preventing a potential tragedy.
In another case on Sept. 30, 2024, District 4 officers responded to multiple calls about a man sitting on the ledge of the H-3 freeway. As officers engaged with him, he began removing personal belongings and appeared ready to jump. Using CIT techniques, officers recognized the imminent danger and worked together to move him away from the ledge and ensure he received care.
“Moments like these define our purpose,” said Interim Chief of Police Rade Vanic. “Crisis Intervention Training gives officers the tools to protect lives while treating each individual with humanity and respect.”
Every CIT-trained officer strengthens the department’s commitment to placing the community’s well-being at the center of its work. HPD thanks its partner agencies NAMI Hawai‘i and the HHHRC for ensuring long-term solutions through shared expertise.
“Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) is more than a training that provides 40 hours of education and skill-building for officers to support people in crisis. CIT brings together law enforcement, clinicians, and mental health advocates to enhance communication, identify mental health resources for assisting people in crisis and builds community. It also ensures that officers get effective de-escalation training and the support that they need, which results in increased safety for all,” said Kumi Macdonald, NAMI Hawai‘i and Heather Lusk, HHHRC.
For more information about HPD’s CIT and community outreach efforts, contact Sergeant Corbin Matsumoto at [email protected], or call 808-723-7715