Pictured from left-Investigator David Moore, Correction Officer Jeremy Hale, Mental Health Therapist Kelli Dumuhosky, Director of Mental Health and Community Services, Lynda Battaglia, GCC Campus Safety Officer Samantha Chaplain, behind Samantha is Correction Officer Aaron Spring, Correction Officer Jeremy Hale, Batavia Police Detective James DeFreze , Batavia Police Officer Miah Kennedy , behind Miah is Batavia Police Officer, Chancellor Hutson, Batavia Police Detective, William Yung , behind William is Genesee County Sheriff’s Deputy, Travis Lambert, Genesee County Sheriff’s Deputy Alexander Hadsall, Batavia Police Officer Austin Davis , Genesee County Sheriff’s Deputy, Richard Flores , Batavia Police Officer, Richard Messmer, and Genesee County Sheriff’s Sergeant, Mathew Clor . Not pictured-Albion Police Officer Cory Martindale
Information from a provided press release
The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office and Genesee County Mental Health hosted a 40-hour Crisis
Intervention Team Training during the month of February. The co-facilitated course was instructed by Investigator David Moore of the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, and Director of Mental Health & Community Services, Lynda Battaglia.
The Crisis Intervention Team training focuses on collaborating efforts with law enforcement, mental
health services, and community advocacy groups, to best respond to those suffering from a mental health
crisis.
The officers were trained on communication and de-escalation techniques, which highlighted
empathy and active listening, along with building an understanding of various mental health disorders.
Through these efforts, the goal is to improve the mental health response to calls for service regarding a
mental health crisis, minimize the risk of injury to the officers and to the individuals in distress, and
provide the most appropriate service to those suffering from the crisis.
The training also focuses on educating those suffering from a crisis, and their family members on the different resources that are available in the area.
Trainees were able to observe presentations from the Batavia VA, Independent Living, Mobile Mental
Health Crisis Team (MIT), Genesee County Emergency Services Dispatch Center, and Genesee County
Mental Health.
The trainees Who attended the course consisted of representatives from the Genesee County Sheriffs
Office, Genesee County Jail, Batavia Police Department, Albion Police Department, and Genesee
Community College Campus Safety.
Co-facilitators, Lynda Battaglia and David Moore, were assisted by Mental Health Therapist, Kelli Dumuhosky, Wyoming County Dual Recovery Coordinator, Jenelle VonBuren, Genesee County Sheriff’s Sergeant, Mathew Clor, and Batavia police Officer, Richard Messmer.