Edward C. Dobleman, Director, Crisis Intervention Team
(CIT-NJ) Center of Excellence, Retired Chief of Police,
to be Honored by Mental Health Association in New Jersey
With a distinguished history of law enforcement service in New Jersey and as the current state Director of the Crisis Intervention Team Center of Excellence (CIT-NJ), Mr. Dobleman has worked to achieve an informed and more humane response to people experiencing a behavioral health crisis.
The Mental Health Association in New Jersey (MHANJ) is pleased to announce that Edward C. Dobleman, has been chosen as an honoree for its 23rd Annual Evening of Excellence. This prestigious event will be held on Wednesday, November 15, 2023, at the Park Savoy Estate in Florham Park.
Mr. Dobleman is being honored for his leadership and dedication to the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT-NJ), a county-based collaboration of law enforcement, first responders and mental health professionals who work to improve the crisis response and system outcomes for individuals experiencing a mental health condition.
Mr. Dobleman has served as the New Jersey State Director of the Crisis Intervention Team Center of Excellence (CIT-NJ) since 2013 after retiring as Chief of Police for the town of Mount Ephraim. The Crisis Intervention Team approach is an evidence-based training shown to be effective in reducing the number of people with mental illness who are arrested, injured, or killed by police. Studies indicate it improves the safety of both police officers and the people they serve. The program is currently headquartered at Legacy Treatment Services in Mount Laurel.
CIT was first introduced to New Jersey in 2008 based on a program developed in Memphis, Tennessee which came to be known as the Memphis Model and slowly spread across the country. When Mr. Dobleman was named the director, it was still a new program active in only five counties in New Jersey. The program was struggling to recruit new police departments, hold classes, and retain county coordinators, but he pushed forward with very little funding or resources. “I believed so strongly in the program that I agreed to help expand it by telling police chiefs throughout New Jersey about the benefits,” said Mr. Dobleman.
“Through his work with CIT-NJ, Edward Dobleman is building bridges between behavioral health professionals and the law enforcement community. We applaud and support his work to create a more humane and effective response to people experiencing mental health crises. His effort and tenacity have reverberated throughout every county in New Jersey,” stated Carolyn Beauchamp, President and CEO of the MHANJ.
Today under Mr. Dobleman’s leadership, all 21 counties in New Jersey have a Crisis Intervention
Team and a local steering committee which includes a law enforcement and a mental health coordinator working together to respond to incidents. CIT training is a 40-hour course with over 20 modules in which officers are trained in a variety of topics, including: Mental health disorders and their signs and symptoms, Crisis intervention techniques, De-escalation strategies, Communication skills and Cultural competency.
Mr. Dobleman feels the synergy and group dynamics of a team of professionals is a win-win for everyone. “The Memphis CIT Model is a valuable tool for police departments and communities alike. It helps to ensure that people experiencing mental health crises receive the help they need and that they are treated with respect and dignity,” observed Mr. Dobleman.
Edward Dobleman has also been instrumental in developing new CIT blocks that are targeted to a specific audience. One example is the Veteran Response Team or VRT module; an advanced level class open to law enforcement who are veterans. He is currently working with the Mental Health Association of Atlantic County to standardize the training modules used across the state.
A third-generation law enforcement leader following in his father and grandfather’s footsteps, Mr. Dobleman sits on many boards, including Tri-State Canine Response Team with whom he deploys nationwide. He is also an enthusiastic Dad devoting his time to coaching his son’s high school hockey team.
Mr. Dobleman resides in Winslow Township, Camden County, NJ with his wife, Tracy and has two sons.
About the Mental Health Association in New Jersey’s Evening of Excellence
The Mental Health Association in New Jersey’s 23rd Annual Evening of Excellence is a crucial fundraiser for the organization. Proceeds will support efforts to increase access to behavioral health services for those in need. For more information, to buy a ticket or place a congratulatory ad, please visit mhanj.org, call 973-571-4100, ext. 123, or email kkoskie@mhanj.org.
The Mental Health Association in New Jersey is a statewide non-profit organization whose mission is to strive for children and adults to achieve victory over mental illness and substance use disorders through advocacy, education, training and services. Its state headquarters is in Union County. It has additional locations in Atlantic, Hudson and Ocean Counties, and affiliates in Essex, Monmouth, Morris, and Passaic Counties. For more information visit https://www.mhanj.org/.
Please click here to purchase a ticket to the MHANJ’s 23rd Evening of Excellence, explore sponsorship or place a congratulatory ad in the electronic ad journal.
Click here to visit our website for more information about the MHANJ. If you haveany questions, please call us at 973-571-4100, ext. 123.
