PV ADAMH Board commends officers for Crisis Intervention Team training
The Paint Valley Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health (ADAMH) Board is pleased to announce that 28 law enforcement officers and first responders, who serve in the Paint Valley ADAMH Board region completed Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training on Friday, May 10. The weeklong, 40-hour class is designed to train law enforcement officers and first responders in skills that assist them in interacting with individuals experiencing crisis due to a mental illness and/or a developmental disability with a strong focus on de-escalation and active listening skills.
Melanie Swisher, Executive Director of the Paint Valley ADAMH Board, said she, the board, and CIT Planning Committee are excited about being able to offer the training to increase safety for the community, officers, and first responders.
“Our first responders are daily met with crises. This training is so important to equip them with the skills to de-escalate situations safely and provide them with the knowledge of local resources that can assist them,” Swisher said.
Since 2013, the Paint Valley ADAMH Board has provided CIT training to 200 law enforcement officers and first responders across the board’s five-county region; 10 from Fayette County, 42 from Highland County, 46 from Pickaway County, 16 from Pike County, and 86 from Ross County.
The CIT Planning Committee is comprised of mental health providers from Scioto Paint Valley Mental Health Center (SPVMHC) and Integrated Services for Behavioral Health, law enforcement officers, representatives from the Veterans Administration, and ADAMH staff who worked together to develop the local CIT training. The training is funded by the Paint Valley ADAMH Board and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Ohio.
The training was facilitated by Dr. Brian Bethel and included presenters from various local agencies including the Boards of Developmental Disabilities from both Ross and Pickaway counties, Pickaway County ESC, Chillicothe City Police Department, Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office, The Ohio State University, Integrated Services for Behavioral Health, Scioto Paint Valley Mental Health Center, Pickaway Area Recovery Services, the VA Medical Center, NAMI of Southern Ohio, and Ohio University Chillicothe.
“The representation of law enforcement from all five counties is a testament to the need for mental health services, as well as the passion of our first responders. I am thankful to be able to assist in this training opportunity,” said Dr. Bethel.
The Paint Valley ADAMH Board would like to thank the following businesses for their donation of lunch throughout the training: Buffalo Wild Wings, 7 Miles Smokehouse & Grill, and Giovanni’s Pizza. The Board also extends its appreciation to Casa Del Taco for the discounted meal they provided.
May 2024 CIT Officers
Corporal Joshua Cash, Fayette County Sheriff’s Office
Corporal Dontonio Echols, Fayette County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Amya Haithcock, Fayette County Sheriff’s Office
Officer Justing Everhart, Washington Court House Police Dept
Officer William Childers, Hillsboro Police Dept
Officer Zach Rash, Hillsboro Police Dept
Officer Chase Michael, Leesburg Police Dept
Corporal Brandon Cooper, Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Robert Dauberman, Pickaway Co Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Daniel Rubio, Pickaway Co Sheriff’s Office
Officer Charles Kulp, South Bloomfield Police Dept
Sheriff Tracy Evans, Pike County Sheriff’s Office
Lieutenant Adrian Cottrell, Pike County Sherriff’s Office
Officer Josh Hickenbottom, Waverly Police Dept
Officer Morgan Wiseman, Waverly Police Dept
Deputy Angel Bowens, Ross County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Sara Hempstead, Ross County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Kerry Mickle, Ross County Sheriff’s
Deputy Josh Shears, Ross County Sheriff’s Office
Officer Chis Claytor, Chillicothe Police Dept
Officer Jonathan Davis, Chillicothe Police Dept
Officer Katrina Hallam, Chillicothe Police Dept
Sergeant Micah Shanks, Chillicothe Police Dept
Officer Dennis Edmiston, Chillicothe VA
Officer Tyler Stanton, Chillicothe VA
Officer Kellen Hedges, Pickaway Co Common Pleas Probation
Officer Kyle Carver, Circleville Police Dept
Officer Ben Tosca, Circleville Police Dept
The Paint Valley ADAMH Board was created in 1967 to ensure the availability of community-based alcohol, drug addiction, and mental health services for the residents of Fayette, Highland, Pickaway, Pike and Ross counties.
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