Officers who completed CIT training are, from left, Jonathan Potts of Lisbon Police Department, Alan Shaffer of Lisbon Police Department, Trevor O’Rourke of Lisbon Police Department, William Hewitt of Lisbon Police Department, Will Grodhaus of Columbiana County Sheriff’s Office, Brent Slider of Salem Police Department, Bryan Granchie of Columbiana Police Department, Keith Raffle of Columbiana County Sheriff’s Office, Justin Hays of Lisbon Police Department, Dakota Wetzel of St. Clair Township Police Department, George Anderson of St. Clair Township Police Department, Les Brode of Ohio State Highway Patrol, Samantha Collins of Salem Police Department, and Brenda Hamilton, a CCMHRSB Board member and family advocate who operates Nina’s Closet to provide resources for kinship families. (Submitted photo)
CIT is a 40-hour course, sponsored locally by the Columbiana County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board with support from the National Alliance on Mental Illness, that teaches officers skills needed to more effectively respond to calls involving individuals with mental illness and/or substance use disorders. The class was hosted this year by the St. Clair Township Police Department and was held in the Township Administration Building’s Community Room.
The goals of the CIT program are:
— To improve safety during law enforcement encounters with people experiencing a mental health crisis, for everyone involved.
— To increase connections to effective and timely mental health services for people in mental health crisis.
Robert Sanchez received the CIT Officer of the Year Award for 2023. A deputy with the Columbiana County Sheriff’s Office, Sanchez is also an EMS instructor and a paramedic working with Columbiana EMS and as Leetonia EMS chief. He is also a member of the First Responder Peer Team. (Submitted photo)
— To use law enforcement strategically during crisis situations – such as when there is an imminent threat to safety or a criminal concern – and increase the role of mental health professionals, peer support specialists, and other community supports.
— To reduce the trauma that people experience during a mental health crisis and thus contribute to their long-term recovery.
Throughout the last week, officers have learned more about mental illness and substance abuse, practiced de-escalation and active listening, learned more about topics such as use of force, civil commitments, officer self care, suicide prevention, geriatric issues, veteran concerns, domestic violence and protection orders, local drug trends, and youth trauma, and were given a wealth of information about local resources that are available.
Presenters included Maureen Waybright, Lori Colian and Jennifer Whitman of the Columbiana County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board; Kelli Hephner of Heroes and Halos and the First Responder Wellness Coordinator; Tina Deal-Hendon of Children’s Services; Steve Ullom of Family and Children First Council; Chad Jakubowski, Jayne Gallagher, Jaimie Rice, Terrie Kyser and Belinda Puchajda of the Counseling Center; Amanda Kantaras and Miranda Abel of Family Recovery Center; Peer Supporters Jaime Urmson, Glen McMillin and Tawnia Jenkins; Amy Creaturo-Moore of Adult Protective Services; Brittany Tyler, Dakotah Sevek and Chris Talbert of Community Action Agency; Nicole Miller of New Day/On Demand Counseling; Vince Brancaccio of Help Network of Northeast Ohio; Erica Como of the Peer Resource and Recovery Center; Sgt. Brett Grabman of the Columbiana County Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team; Victim Advocate Elaine Kloss; Krista Peddicord and Bret Hartup of the Columbiana County Prosecutor’s Office; Tim Wires; Alex Amstutz, a peer supporter from the Veterans Administration; Cassandra Valentini of Direction Home of Eastern Ohio; and Mark Edwards and Rick Whitfield of Columbiana Police Department.
The 2023 CIT graduates include Jonathan Potts of Lisbon Police Department, Alan Shaffer of Lisbon Police Department, Trevor O’Rourke of Lisbon Police Department, William Hewitt of Lisbon Police Department, Will Grodhaus of Columbiana County Sheriff’s Office, Brent Slider of Salem Police Department, Bryan Granchie of Columbiana Police Department, Keith Raffle of Columbiana County Sheriff’s Office, Justin Hays of Lisbon Police Department, Dakota Wetzel of St. Clair Township Police Department, George Anderson of St. Clair Township Police Department, Les Brode of Ohio State Highway Patrol, and Samantha Collins of Salem Police Department. Brenda Hamilton, a CCMHRSB Board member and family advocate who operates Nina’s Closet to provide resources for kinship families, also completed the training.
CCMHRSB provides the CIT training to officers annually, free of charge, and a companion course is offered for dispatchers. This most recent class brings the total number of officers and dispatchers trained through the CCMHRSB program up to 100.
During the graduation luncheon, the CIT Officer of the Year award was presented to Robert Sanchez. A deputy with the Columbiana County Sheriff’s Office, Sanchez is also an EMS instructor and a paramedic working with Columbiana EMS and as Leetonia EMS Chief. He is also a member of the First Responder Peer Team.
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