The Hamden Police Department also currently has 21 police officers and emergency dispatchers which received specialized training and hold certifications in Crisis Intervention. The program is referred to as the Crisis Interventions Team (CIT). The goal of the CIT program is to foster community partnerships designed to set a standard of excellence with respect to the treatment of individuals with mental illness, improving the quality of life for an entire community. The primary goal for these specially trained officers of the C.I.T. is to promote safety for all involved and to link the person in crisis to services in the community whenever possible. C.I.T. officers are selected from a list of volunteers from the Patrol Division and selection is organized to train enough officers to cover each shift. Candidates are chosen based on their police skill, compassion, patience and the ability to think creatively. Some of the topics these Officers receive specialty training in are; mental illness and substance abuse, the mental health system, safe de-escalation techniques, suicide by cop, suicide assessment and prevention, children's mental health and trauma, mental health and the law and excited delirium.