2024 CIT Awards

The Mental Health and Recovery Board is proud to announce the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) honors for 2024 awarded by the Portage County Chief’s Association. Ptl. Zach Milush, Ravenna PD and Of. Scott Hermon, Streetsboro PD were named CIT Officers of the Year; Lt. Andrew Lumpkins, Aurora PD and Abigail Watkins, Kent PD were named CIT Champions of the Year; and Disp. Haley Firtik was named CIT Dispatcher of the Year.

This past April Ptl. Zach Milush applied skills learned in CIT Training, which he attended in 2022. Of. Milush was dispatched to Coleman Access Building to help a man who had life threatening, self-inflicted lacerations on his arms. Of. Milush was able to remain calm and show compassion while rendering life saving measures awaiting paramedics’ arrival. Of. Milush has been a consistent example of a “CIT Officer,” through his words and actions. He has impacted the City of Ravenna on many calls throughout his career.

Of. Scott Hermon has repeatedly shown what relationship building and rapport can do when it comes to encountering people in crisis. On several calls, Of. Hermon has encountered an individual with dementia. In their state of uncertainty and confusion, Of. Hermon does an excellent job communicating and de-escalating, to the point where they know and trust he will take care of them and get them somewhere safely. Of. Hermon attended CIT Training in 2007, amongst the first classes held in Portage County.

Lt. Andrew Lumpkins has not only been trained in CIT since 2007, but has also taken on the role as CIT Coordinator within his department at Aurora PD. He has consistently supported the CIT program; from assuring CIT-related calls are entered into the database to sitting on the Experienced CIT Officer Panel during Portage County trainings where he shares his knowledge on ways to best communicate with those experiencing distress. While speaking on the panel, it is apparent that Lt. Lumpkins truly cares for the people in our community, advocating for CIT to expand and strengthen in Portage County to ensure a better response for those in crisis.

Abigail Watkins attended CIT training in 2021, and quickly embraced the philosophy of CIT landing her in the position of both Assistant CIT Coordinator for Kent PD and the Juvenile Counselor for Kent City Schools. She also reviews the CIT-related calls, checks to make sure they are entered into the database, and takes on any issues that may occur. Her compassion and devotion is apparent when she works with children and adults who experience mental health issues; from homelessness to suicidality; Abigail always works to get people the resources they need. 

Dispatchers are our front-line responders, receiving numerous calls per day, having to de-escalate while relaying important information to officers and fire/EMS. When Dispatcher Haley Firtik from Streetsboro PD received a call from a male who felt hopeless and needed help; she went the extra mile and not only took time to look up and give this man resources, but she also sent out a CIT officer to locate the man for a follow-up, to make sure he was alright and did not need further assistance. Haley also volunteers her time to the CIT training; she is an actor for the “real-world” scenarios that are put on at the end of each training. Her acting makes the scenarios truly feel real and gives the participants in the class great practice for use in the field.

Pictured are from top left: Abigal Watkins, Haley Fritik, and Lt. Lumpkins receiving their awards at the 2024 Portage Substance Abuse & Mental Health Conference. Officer Herman is not pictured.