Paint Valley ADAMH Press Releases
Paint Valley ADAMH Board announces that 22 law enforcement officers complete CIT Training.
May 8, 2026
For Immediate Release
Chillicothe, OH — The Paint Valley Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health (ADAMH) Board is pleased to announce that twenty-two (22) law enforcement officers, who serve in the Paint Valley ADAMH Board region, completed Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Training on Friday, May 08, 2026. The weeklong, 40-hour class is designed to train law enforcement officers and first responders in skills that assist them in interacting with individuals with mental illness and/or a developmental disability.
Melanie Swisher, Executive Director of the Paint Valley ADAMH Board, said she, the board, and CIT Planning Committee are excited about being able to offer the training to increase safety for the community, officers, and first responders. “Our first responders are daily met with crises. This training is so important to equip them with the skills to de-escalate situations safely and provide them with the knowledge of local resources that can assist those they serve,” Swisher said.
A total of 238 officers and first responders across the Paint Valley ADAMH region have now completed CIT Officer Training by the Board since the first class held in 2013 (22 are from Fayette County, 44 from Highland County, 17 from Pike County, 53 from Pickaway County, and102 from Ross County). Law enforcement agencies represented during this year’s training include Ross County Sheriff’s Office, Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office, Chillicothe Police Department, Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, Washington Court House Police, Highland Police Department, Waverly Police Department, and Pike County Sheriff's Office.
The training was facilitated by Dr. Brian Bethel with assistance from Paint Valley ADAMH Associate Director and CIT Program Coordinator, Kelly Dennis. The training included presentations from Pickaway and Ross County boards of developmental disabilities, Chillicothe Police Department, Pike County Sheriff’s Office, The Ohio State University, Integrated Services for Behavioral Health, Scioto Paint Valley Mental Health Center, Coleman Health Services, the Chillicothe VA Medical Center, NAMI Southern Ohio, and Ohio University Chillicothe. The CIT Planning Committee, which is comprised of law enforcement agencies, mental health service providers, and Paint Valley ADAMH Board staff assisted with the planning of the training. The training is funded by the Paint Valley ADAMH Board.
The Paint Valley ADAMH Board would like to thank the following businesses for donating lunch during the training: Buffalo Wild Wings, Giovanni’s Pizza, and Greg Miles with 7 Miles Smokehouse. The Board also extends its appreciation to Casa Del Taco, McDonalds, and Bob Evans for the discounted meals they provided during the training. The Board extends our gratitude to the First Wesleyan Church for allowing us to hold the training at their facility for the week.
May 2026 CIT Officers
- Officer Gavin Moore, Washington Court House Police Department
- Leah Marcus, Washington Court House Police Department
- Officer Kyle Picard, Washington Court House Police Department
- Deputy Rachel Scott, Fayette County Sheriff’s Office
- Deputy Christopher Potter, Fayette County Sheriff's Office
- Deputy Samuel Curl, Fayette County Sheriff’s Office
- Deputy Kathleen Timmons, Fayette County Sheriff’s Office
- Deputy Austin Rolfe, Fayette County Sheriff's Office
- Deputy Gage Martin, Fayette County Sheriff's Office
- Officer Shane Ballein, Waverly Police Department
- Officer Matthew Sexton, Waverly Police Department
- Mark Agin, Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office
- Emily Reisinger, Pickaway County Sheriff's Office
- Deputy Oberley, Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office
- Chief Brandon Holliday, Highland Police Department
- Officer Nathaniel Smith, Highland Police Department
- Officer Lizabeth Preston, Highland Police Department
- Officer Justin Depugh, Chillicothe Police Department
- Deputy Colt Mitchell, Ross County Sheriff's Office
- Deputy Ariana Williamson, Ross County Sheriff's Office
- Deputy Todd Yarman, Pike County Sheriff's Office
- Deputy Kayla Miller, Pike County Sheriff's Office
The Paint Valley ADAMH Board was created in 1967 to ensure the availability of
community-based alcohol, drug addiction, and mental health services for the residents of
Fayette, Highland, Pickaway, Pike, and Ross Counties.
For questions, information, or follow up, please contact:
Paint Valley ADAMH
740-773-2283
