04/24/2026
It has been a busy past few days for the Lawrence County Sheriff's Office:
We’re proud to share an important step forward for our community.
Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) is a 40-hour, evidence-based program that prepares first responders to safely and effectively interact with individuals experiencing mental health or substance use crises. The training emphasizes de-escalation, reducing stigma, and diverting individuals away from jail and toward appropriate medical treatment. Research shows that CIT programs help decrease arrests involving individuals with mental illness, increase access to mental health services, and reduce officer injuries.
Recently, Nurse Carrie White and Lt. Susan Taylor attended a CIT trainer course in Madison County, TN. With this certification, they are now equipped to teach the full 40-hour CIT program locally.
This means we will be able to train officers right here in our county and open the door for surrounding agencies to attend as well. Strengthening our response to mental health crises is a priority, and this is a big step in the right direction.
Also:
We are proud to recognize an outstanding achievement within our team.
The Tennessee Corrections Institute hosts an annual Jail Issues and FTO Conference, where top professionals are honored with the “Facility Training Officer (FTO) of the Year” award. This award recognizes excellence in training new corrections deputies, maintaining Tennessee compliance standards, and advancing correctional practices.
We are honored to share that our own FTO Sergeant Anthony Lovett was named this year’s recipient.
Through his dedication and commitment to training, our officers consistently receive more than the required hours, ensuring they are better prepared and equipped for the job. His hard work and leadership continue to make a lasting impact on our agency.
Congratulations, Sgt. Lovett, and thank you for your service and dedication.
