Chief David Olds,
Upper Sandusky Police Department

After David Olds became Upper Sandusky Chief of Police in 2009, he soon became aware of the need for officers to be better trained in dealing with mental health crises.  He took Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training side by side with several of his own officers and made the commitment to train his entire force.  He joined the CIT Planning Committee and has been instrumental in advocating for CIT with fellow police chiefs and sheriffs in our area.  He is currently writing an article on CIT for the Ohio Police Chief Magazine.  According to David, the days of pacifying a problem and walking away are over.  Police are learning to see options for collaborating with the mental health community, consumers, and family advocates. 

Soon after Patrick Del Turco joined the Tiffin Police Department in 1986, he handled several incidents involving persons with mental illness in crisis and realized he had a knack for communicating with and deescalating persons in crisis.  He took training in Hostage Negotiation and Crisis Intervention (CIT) and became one of the original members of his department’s Crisis Negotiation Team. He was assigned as Commander of the team in 2009.  As CIT co-coordinator in Sandusky, Seneca, & Wyandot Counties, he facilitates the 40-hour training, teaches de-escalation techniques, and directs role play sessions.  He cites CIT as some of the most practical, helpful, and effective training available for law enforcement.

NAMI salutes these men for their concern and leadership on behalf of persons with mental health crises in our communities.  We invite you to join us in honoring them.

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NAMI is excited to welcome Tony Lowe of California back to his native turf.  Tony is a native of Green Springs and a graduate of Clyde High School.  He speaks all over the continent to groups of young people and adults with the award-winning Challenge Day program based in California.  Challenge Day has been featured on the Oprah Show, the Emmy Award-winning “Teen Files” TV special, and currently is featured in a weekly series on MTV called “If You Really Knew Me.”  The program creates a safe place for young people and adults to have real conversations about difficult topics.  Tony recognizes NAMI’s Ray of Hope event as an important way that we join together in community to speak freely about emotional health and mental illness.  He will encourage us to celebrate and take pride in survival, recovery, and hope made real.    

 Visit the Challenge Day website.