Greenville PD Earns Recognition for Mental Health Training

PIQUA -- The Greenville Police Department earned recognition for its commitment to mental health and recovery services training at the Tri-County Board of Recovery and Mental Health Service’s Annual Meeting and Art of Recovery Showcase October 16 at Edison Community College.

Each year since 2000, the Tri-County Board has recognized groups and individuals with the Geraldine B. Nelson Award for supportive measures on behalf of another, by promoting the recognition of consumer rights and encouraging positive change in the realm of mental health and addictions issues.

The Greenville Police Department is the first department in the Darke, Miami and Shelby County service area to have 100 percent of its officers complete the Tri-County Board’s Crisis Intervention Team Training (CIT), which exposes law enforcement professionals to the mental health and addiction treatment and recovery services in the area.

Presenting the award was Tri-County Board Chairman Jason Wagner of Versailles. Wagner said, “For 2013, we recognize a group who have collectively and as individuals dedicated a significant portion of their professional lives to a deeper understanding of mental health and addiction, for the purpose of helping them be more effective in serving and protecting the community in which they live and work.”

“The CIT training helps law enforcement recognize and appropriately address issues related to mental health and addiction,” said Mark McDaniel, Executive Director of the Tri-County Board. “Officers are out there on the street and are often the first point of contact with the public. The Greenville Police Department has demonstrated a tremendous commitment to understanding and applying their training in cases where mental health or addiction issues may be a factor.”

In accepting the award on behalf of the department, Greenville Police Chief Dennis Butts said, “We are grateful for any training that helps the department protect and serve the public. The CIT training has been very helpful, and it has helped foster a better sense of familiarity and trust between mental health services and law enforcement.”

McDaniel noted that Butts will be awarded the Ohio CIT Law Enforcement Administrator of the Year Oct. 28 at the statewide CIT conference in Columbus.

Also at the Annual Meeting, McDaniel honored Vickie Martin with the Director’s Award for outstanding service to the mental health and recovery services provider network, and McDaniel was recognized for 15 years of service to the Tri-County Board.

Art of Recovery is an annual showcase of local artists who create art to express their personal journeys through mental health and addiction recovery, or whose lives have been touched as a family member, friend or service provider. More than 30 artists contributed nearly 100 pieces of artwork, poetry and music for the Showcase, which was exhibited Oct. 16 in the Robinson Theater at Edison Community College’s Piqua campus.

Geraldine B. Nelson, for whom the advocacy award is named, was a longtime employee of the Tri-County Board and an ardent advocate for mental health services.