Why Crisis Intervention Training Matters

Learn the fundamentals of crisis intervention training and why these skills are essential across professions. This session will include both mental health and law enforcement perspectives on the importance of teaching crisis intervention skills to law enforcement officers, first responders, and crisis teams to help keep communities safe. Participants will also receive an introductory overview of how the brain responds during a crisis and how de-escalation techniques can help reduce the impact of crisis situations.

Learning objectives:

1. Describe how crisis intervention training affects crisis response from law enforcement.
2. Learn ways to collaborate with first responders who have been trained in CIT.
3. Connect common crisis-related behaviors to appropriate de-escalation techniques.

Bios:

Scott Reis began his law enforcement career in 1990 as a part-time licensed police officer with the City of Rochester Police Department. While serving with Rochester, he earned his Associate of Science degree in Law Enforcement from Rochester Community College. In 1992, he was hired by the City of Zumbrota Police Department, continuing to build a strong foundation in patrol operations and community policing. In 1994, Scott joined the Minnetonka Police Department where her served for 31 years. In 2017, after completing a 40-hour mental health certification course, Scott joined Minnesota Crisis Intervention Team (MNCIT) as a Law Enforcement Presenter and Coach. MNCIT provides first responders with training in mental health response, de-escalation, implicit bias, and autism awareness through classroom instruction, panel discussions, and scenario-based learning with professional actors. Scott purposefully integrates appropriate humor into his presentations, recognizing that neuroscience supports humor as a powerful learning tool. In May 2026, Scott retired after 35 years in law enforcement. With gratitude for a fulfilling career of service, he now embraces the opportunity to explore new interests, build new connections, and enjoy the next chapter of life.

Gennae Falconer has been working in a variety of roles within the non-profit sphere, largely focused on training and teaching, for nearly 30 years. She received her master’s in Forensic Psychology in the summer of 2012 and has been working in community based mental health supporting staff who provide services for folks living with a serious and persistent mental illness for the past decade.

Currently, Gennae serves as the Executive Director of Minnesota Crisis Intervention Team (MN CIT). The mission of Minnesota Crisis Intervention Team training is to provide first responders, criminal justice professionals, human service professionals, and mental health professionals with information and training in how to safely and compassionately handle a person in a mental health crisis.