2022 CIT Commendations
The recognition of excellent work in the area of crisis intervention, de-escalation, and mental health response on the part of an officer who went above and beyond
Brookline Police Department
Detective Julie McDonnell
Detective McDonnell conducts herself in a manner that exemplifies the principles of Crisis Intervention Training and implementation. She was in the first group of Brookline Officers to attend CIT training and was an original member of the Brookline Police Crisis Intervention Team. Detective McDonnell does an exemplary job in an area of police work that is often overlooked and seldom recognized. She does so in a professional, compassionate and humble manner. Detective McDonnell exemplifies the principles of CIT; recognition, communication, de-escalation and community engagement. Detective McDonnell’s professionalism, dedication and compassion make her imminently deserving of recognition by the Norfolk County CIT-TTAC.
Canton Police Department
Deputy Chief Patricia Sherrill
Deputy Chief Sherrill has been a true advocate for providing mental health training to officers at the Canton Police Department in order to best serve the community members who are suffering from the various types of mental illness. She has true empathy and compassion. She strives to connect individuals with mental health and substance use disorders to services. The Town of Canton is so fortunate to have such a passionate advocate and her colleagues are proud to work alongside her at the Canton Police Department.
Dedham Police Department
Officer Meghan Jenkins
Officer Jenkins was recently assigned the role of school resource officer and has been invaluable in this position. Officer Jenkins took it upon herself to add sensory bags to cruisers and created a training for all officers to use the equipment successfully. She was a big part of bringing project lifesaver up to date in our community and has become a leader in teaching the process to others. Officer Jenkins has also seamlessly taken over as the CIMS officer and has done incredible work on follow ups to get people struggling with addiction the help and resources they need.
Dedham Police Department
Officer Brian Crump
Officer Crump has used the de-escalation techniques from his CIT Training to slow down and de-escalate several calls that involved individuals in crisis. He went the extra mile to listen to people's needs and connected them to resources that could assist them. So many times Officer Crump was able to assist and de-escalate without force so that the individual, nor any officer, was placed into danger. Officer Crump has exemplified this award throughout his career and has continued to do the same in 2022.
Franklin Police Department
Officer Tyler Brabham
Officer Brabham treats every individual he encounters with dignity, compassion, and empathy. He comes off as approachable and engages in a constructive dialogue with the person which naturally de-escalates the situation. Officer Brabham is a valuable asset to our department's CIT team and it is clear that he meets and exceeds the definition of a CIT trained officer.
Lasell University Police Department
Officer Oluremi Sotunbo
Officer Sotunbo is a trained CIT officer who has demonstrated on a daily and weekly basis the principles behind the CIT training. His professionalism, his recognition and ability to understand several mental health incidents with a student in crisis has been displayed many times this academic school year. Officer Sotunbo has demonstrated the principles of the CIT training on many occasions on these calls. His ability to communicate and reassure the student in crisis situations is a direct result of the trainings he has received from the Norfolk County CIT TTAC.
Lasell University Police Department
Sergeant Detective Gregory Gallagher
Sergeant Detective Gallagher exemplifies the principles of CIT. He has shown compassion and empathy to all of the students he has encountered on campus that are experiencing some type of mental health crisis. His ability to show empathy, trust, and gain the confidence of the students has allowed him to de-escalate situations and ensure that everyone on-scene is safe. It is clear that he meets and exceeds the definition of a trained CIT officer.
Lasell University Police Department
Officer Edward Gilfoy
Officer Gilfoy exemplifies the principles of CIT. He has shown compassion and empathy when responding to a student in crisis. His ability to show empathy, trust, and gain the confidence of the students has allowed him to de-escalate situations and ensure that everyone on-scene is safe. It is clear that he meets and exceeds the definition of a trained CIT officer.
Medway Police Department
Sergeant Derek Harrington
Sergeant Harrington conducts himself in a manner that exemplifies the principles of CIT and implementation. He always tries to establish rapport with the individual in crisis and de-escalate the situation. Sergeant Harrington's professionalism, dedication and compassion make him deserving of recognition by the Norfolk County CIT- TTAC
MIT Police Department
Officer Jennifer Ortiz
Officer Ortiz is deserving of recognition for her work in dealing with people in mental health crisis. Not everyone has the ability or tenacity to show people in mental health crisis that they genuinely care. Officer Ortiz does care and demonstrates that on a daily basis. Her training along with her demeanor provide her with the tools to effectively assist community members experiencing a mental health crisis. Officer Ortiz exemplifies the principles of CIT and is deserving of this award.
Newton Police Department
Sergeant Melanie Rooney
In 2021 Sergeant Rooney attended the Norfolk County CIT-TTAC, in conjunction with the Department of Mental Health and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Since receiving this exceptional training Sergeant Rooney has become a pioneer in progressing the Newton Police Department’s crisis intervention response into the 21st Century through her relentless commitment to enhancing the police response and follow up on mental health, substance abuse and other public safety concerns in our community. Sergeant Rooney has clearly earned this commendation by proving her excellence through extraordinary performance out in the street and strategically through our CCIT.
Norwood Police Department
Sergeant Will Fundora
Sergeant Fundora was in one of the first batches of our officers to undergo CIT training. Since then, he has gone above and beyond what most departments would expect from their officers. Although his responsibilities are primarily as a patrol supervisor, he works hard daily to serve segments of our population that are struggling, primarily those with mental illness. He represents the Norwood Police Department on the Town's Community Crisis Intervention Team (CCIT) which meets monthly to discuss and assist people. Sergeant Fundora continually performs above and beyond in this area, communicating the needs of people with the officers.
Norwood Police Department
Officer Bryan Cedrone
In his role as the CIT coordinator, Officer Cedrone has helped draft a grant application that resulted in a Riverside employee being with the Department full time. He follows up on matters concerning residents and families where mental health services are needed, often visiting homes with our Riverside clinician. Officer Cedrone meets and exceeds the definition of a trained CIT officer.