Crisis Intervention Team Celebrates Exceptional Service

When someone suffers a mental health crisis in our community, first responders know the training they’ve received can make a crucial difference. The Mecklenburg County Crisis Intervention Team understands that all too well, and each year, the organization honors many in the community who have played a critical role in saving lives.   

“Each CIT award recipient represents lives saved at a critical time in the life of a resident,” said Dr. Raynard Washington, Mecklenburg County Public Health director. “We have a greater understanding of the impact of a mental health crisis in our neighborhoods. The work of the Crisis Intervention Team is vital to both the individual as well as the entire community.” 

The honorees will be recognized for their exceptional work on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. at the Valerie C. Woodard Center Auditorium, 3205 Freedom Dr. Suite E, Charlotte, NC 28208. 

2024 Award Recipients: 

  • CIT Officer of the Year: Brandon McKinney (CMPD) 
  • Veteran CIT Officer of the Year: Charles “Glen” Campbell (CMPD) 
  • Intervention of the Year: Yency Contreras (CMPD) 
  • CIT Team Member of the Year: Amanda Williams (CMPD) 
  • Judy Reinter Advocate of the Year: Julia Sain  
  • Instructor of the Year: Stephen Parker (CMPD) 
  • Dan Johnson Leadership Award: Patricia Brown (CPCC) 
  • CDCP Officer of the Year: Terence Funderburk (CMPD) 
  • CIT dispatcher/911 Call Taker of the Year: Pam DeCampos (CMPD) 
  • First Responder Award: Andre Fuller (CFD) 
     

CIT Officer of the Year  

Officer Brandon McKinney has 18 years of law enforcement experience and more than 10 years of CIT training. His professionalism, empathy, and remarkable ability to de-escalate potentially volatile situations are unparalleled. He is proactive in his work, often seeking out calls that involve mental health components, ensuring that individuals receive the specialized care they need. Officer McKinney regularly demonstrates his natural ability to connect with people in their most vulnerable moments offering hope in despair. His ability to connect with individuals in crisis, de-escalate tense situations, and offer hope when it is needed most makes him an amazing CIT Officer of the Year.  

Veteran CIT Officer of the Year 

Sgt. Charles “Glen” Campbell leads by example, which was made evident during an incident where Campbell responded to a crisis situation and learned the individual was a veteran. Campbell shared his personal experiences of depression and mental health challenges, making a commitment to stay with him throughout the entire encounter. Through his ability to connect as a Veteran, Sgt. Campbell was able to deescalate the situation, and the individual got the help he needed. Campbell ensured the individual had the necessary resources available to him and he collected contact information to keep in touch with him. The skill and commitment demonstrated during this interaction serves as an example of Sgt. Campbell’s ability to provide life-saving assistance and why he is the winner of the Veteran CIT Officer of the Year. 

CIT Dispatcher/911 Call Taker of the Year 

Pam DeCampos (CMPD) is an exemplary telecommunicator, known for her unwavering respect and empathy toward every caller. Drawing on her Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training, she skillfully navigates challenging conversations, ensuring that individuals in distress feel heard and supported. She not only helps her colleagues but plays a crucial role in debriefing after major incidents. Her ability to remain calm and focused on critical situations, combined with her deep understanding of mental health crises, make her an invaluable asset to the team. Because of this and all those in crisis she has helped, we recognize her as this year’s CIT Telecommunicator of the Year.  

Additional Info: 

Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) is a community collaboration between law enforcement, mental health agencies, consumers and their family members, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)-Charlotte, and Central Piedmont Community College. CIT was developed for law enforcement officers who are frequently first responders for persons in crisis with a serious mental illness.  

Three components of CIT Programs: 

  • Intensive training: Police officers and other first responders receive up to 40 hours of training regarding mental illness, co-occurring disorders, and response strategies. 
  • Strong mental health partnerships: Police and mobile crisis workers who respond to people in crisis seek viable options for linking individuals with mental health treatment in lieu of arrest. 
  • Significant mental health consumer and family involvement: Consumer and family advocates are integrally involved in the design and implementation of local CIT programs. 
     

Child Development Community Policing (CDCP) has served as a model for law enforcement-mental health partnerships across the country, and Charlotte-Mecklenburg is proud to have one of the oldest and largest programs of this kind in the nation. 

  • The goals of the CDCP program are to: 
    • Facilitate immediate officer awareness and identification of children exposed to violence and other trauma. 
    • Increase expert clinical assessment and swift coordinated services for all impacted children and families.