2025 CIT Awards
CIT Legacy & Leadership Award
It is with great pride and admiration that we recognize Acting Captain Mario Molina as the recipient of this year’s CIT Leadership & Legacy Award—an honor befitting a trailblazer whose visionary leadership has transformed the landscape of crisis response in San Francisco.
Throughout his distinguished career, Acting Captain Molina has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to public safety, particularly during his tenure with the Gang Task Force Unit, where he earned numerous awards. Yet, it was his unexpected reassignment in 2015 that set the stage for a new and transformative chapter—one that would redefine his legacy and the future of crisis intervention in our city.
Following his promotion to Lieutenant, and after a brief assignment as a Watch Commander at Bayview Station, Acting Captain Molina was invited by Retired Deputy Chief Lyn Tomioka to lead the San Francisco Police Department’s Crisis Intervention Team (CIT). What began as a simple lunch meeting became a defining moment—one that would profoundly impact the department and the community it serves.
At the time, CIT training was an established program—but Acting Captain Molina saw the opportunity for something greater. With bold vision and steady resolve, he set out not just to maintain the program but to reimagine it. He quickly moved beyond the classroom, recognizing that true change required structural reform, interagency collaboration, and cultural shift.
Under his transformative leadership:
He secured two full-time training sergeants to oversee separate CIT training components.
- He modernized the curriculum by enhancing the 40-hour Mental Health Awareness Course and launching the innovative 10-hour Threat Assessment & De-escalation Course.
- He authored and implemented new CIT policies and unit orders, laying a strong foundation for accountability and effectiveness.
- He launched the CIT Awards, a tradition we proudly continue today, recognizing officers who exemplify CIT principles in the field.
The results were nothing short of extraordinary. From 2016 to 2020:
- Use of force incidents declined by 68%
- Pointing of firearms dropped by 80%
- San Francisco experienced 18 consecutive months without an officer-involved shooting—an unparalleled achievement for a major U.S. city.
Yet Acting Captain Molina understood that training alone was not enough. He championed the creation of San Francisco’s first CIT Field Unit—a groundbreaking team dedicated to proactive follow-ups with individuals in crisis. He also forged an unprecedented partnership with the Department of Public Health’s Comprehensive Crisis Services, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding. This integrated response model placed police officers and clinicians side by side, responding together to calls for service—a powerful testament to the strength of cross-disciplinary collaboration.
His efforts did not go unnoticed. Under his stewardship, the SFPD’s CIT model gained national recognition and was showcased at esteemed conferences, including:
- International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)
- Force Science Institute
- California Association of Hostage Negotiators (CAHN)
- California Crisis Intervention Training Association (CCITA)
- American Psychiatric Association (APA)
The unit also earned prestigious awards, including formal recognition by the San Francisco Police Commission and the California Police Officers’ Association Award of Distinction.
In 2023, Acting Captain Molina transitioned into his current role as Night Captain, entrusting the continued evolution of CIT to his successor. But the program’s strength today is a direct result of his vision, diligence, and resolve.
Today, we honor Acting Captain Mario Molina not only for his outstanding contributions but for the lasting legacy he leaves behind. The CIT Unit he built stands as a national model for compassionate, community-centered policing.
Acting Captain Molina, your leadership has saved lives, strengthened trust, and reshaped how we serve our most vulnerable. Your legacy will continue to guide and inspire for generations to come.
Congratulations!