Espinosa, others recognized by NAMI Wood County

BOWLING GREEN: Three police officers were recognized for helping local citizens in distress at Wood County, Ohio's second annual Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) lunch October 6, 2015 at Stone Ridge Golf Course. These "exceptional performance" awards honor officers who handle individuals living with mental illness sensitively and compassionately when they need help.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) helped design Crisis Intervention Training to sensitize law enforcement to the needs of people living with mental illness. When officers recognize that someone's behavior is a result of a mental disorder, they can offer help instead of letting the situation escalate until arresting the person seems the only option.

NAMI Wood County has trained forty-seven local officers in crisis intervention since starting the program in 2012. The training teaches law enforcement to recognize when mental illness is influencing a distressed person's behavior, how to de-escalate the situation, and when to get the individual professional help. County mental health and law enforcement agencies as well as local mental health advocates collaborate in providing the training. The Wood County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board helps fund the CIT program.

Dispatcher of the Year award went to Kristen Espinosa of the Northwood Police Department. Responding to a call involving a woman in distress at a local restaurant, Ms. Espinosa determined that the woman, who has a mental illness, has not been taking her medications regularly. Ms. Espinosa went out of her way to ensure the woman received the care she needed in order to stabilize.

Sergeant Greg Panning of the Wood County Sheriff's Office discovered a vehicle partially in the roadway at 2:00 AM with no operating lights. Sergeant Panning gathered that the driver was in physical and mental distress because of family problems. The officer helped calm the driver, gave him his contact number, and invited him to call any time he needed help. NAMI Wood County named Sergeant Panning Officer of the Year.

Officer Shelley Horine, named CIT Champion of the Year, has been instrumental in tracking the Bowling Green Police Departments' CIT calls. She performs an annual review of all incidents, and has developed and implemented the CIT forms that officers fill out in the field. Officer Horine has attended all CIT coordinator meetings, follows up all CIT calls, and keeps the Wood County incident data base up-to-date.

For more information on CIT and other NAMI classes, contact NAMI Wood County at 419-352-0626.