Corporal Allen Marcus Named CIT International Officer Of The Year

With the number of recent mass shootings, the valuable role of the police force and mental health specialists has become integral. One such person, Corporal Allen Marcus of Pasadena, was recently awarded the International Officer of the Year award for his outstanding work on the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT).

While all members of the Anne Arundel County Police Department have ample experience dealing with crises, the CIT has that as its focus. According to CIT International, the team is based on a model developed in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1988. CIT programs bridge the gap between police response and mental health care by forming community partnerships.

Throughout his years on the force, Marcus has used this knowledge to help the citizens of Anne Arundel County. One example involved a Glen Burnie woman on the verge of suicide. Although several officers urged the woman to come down, she did not budge. But that changed with Marcus. When he arrived, she allowed him to approach the bridge and speak. With his encouragement, the woman came down from the bridge safely.

Marcus also engages in youth mentoring. In July, he participated in a soapbox derby with other CIT officers and at-risk youth. Together, they built soapbox cars and then met to race against one another once they were done.

Marcus attributes this treasured connection that he has with people, such as the suicidal woman and local youth, to his childhood. He believes that community members gravitate toward him because of his persona that he developed through his father, a preacher, and his caring environment. He believes these factors have significantly helped him become successful in crisis intervention.

But it’s not only these people who can see the invaluable effect Marcus has had on the people of Anne Arundel County. His coworkers especially can see his impact.

According to Lieutenant Steven Thomas, another CIT member on the Anne Arundel force, a written nomination by his peers was sent to CIT International, which selects the Officer of the Year.

Even though Marcus has had years of success helping the citizens of Anne Arundel County, the Officer of the Year award came as a surprise. Marcus was in the running with two international officers from Australia and China. When his Anne Arundel force presented him with the award, he was both shocked and grateful. The award has affirmed that he, along with entire CIT, are providing an invaluable service to this county.