Officer Craig named 2025 CIT Officer of the Year

The Wake Forest Police Department (WFPD) recently named Officer C. Craig as its 2025 Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Officer of the Year.

A specialized law enforcement program, the CIT is a partnership between 17 Wake County law enforcement agencies, Wake County Human Services, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The initiative is designed to develop a more effective, compassionate, and safer approach to interacting with people suffering from a mental illness or developmental disability crisis.

The CIT provides 40 hours of specialized training to sworn law enforcement officers. The training helps officers identify individuals in a mental health crisis and utilize effective techniques to deescalate crisis situations. As a result, there are fewer incidents of incarceration of persons with mental illness for misdemeanor charges and fewer injuries to both officers and individuals with mental illness.

On August 15, 2024, Officer Craig was on patrol along Dr. Calvin Jones Highway/NC 98 Bypass. While crossing the bridge that spans Capital Boulevard/US 1, Craig observed a young female sitting beside the guardrail. Upon closer examination, he noticed blood on her arm and bloody handprints on the guardrail indicating she had attempted to climb the guardrail and possibly jump. 

Recognizing that the female was experiencing a crisis, Craig pulled over to speak with her. During their exchange, the young lady admitted that she was waiting for traffic to clear so she could jump and kill herself. She also stated she had attempted suicide on prior occasions. Eventually, after more conversation, the young lady agreed to contact her family and seek treatment.

According to Lt. C. Minor, the impact of Craig’s attentiveness and compassionate interaction with the young lady cannot be overstated.

“Due to his professional and compassionate interaction with the young lady, not to mention his vigilance and dedication while on patrol, Officer Craig likely saved her life,” said Lt. Minor. “His quick actions led not only to a successful outcome but also resulted in her contacting her family for notification and receiving help with the commitment process.”

He continued, “Officer Craig demonstrates the Wake Forest Police Department’s core values of courage, honor, and integrity in utilizing his crisis intervention skills to help those in a crisis event. For those reasons and more, we are pleased to recognize him as our 2025 CIT Officer of the Year.”