The Chief of the Blue Ash Police Department (BAPD) was recently recognized for his efforts in crisis intervention. Chief Paul Hartinger was recognized on Friday, October 10 at the annual Hamilton County National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Celebration for “Excellence in Crisis Intervention Team”.  NAMI’s Evening of Hope event was held at the Xavier University Cintas Center. The annual celebration is held to acknowledge and reward the outstanding work being done in mental health in Southwest Ohio.

Chief Hartinger has involved the entire Blue Ash Police Department, surrounding jurisdictions, and has even traveled to the State level to advocate mental health training for law enforcement. He has set a goal of 100% street patrol being Crisis Intervention Team Trained, which includes BAPD supervisors and dispatchers. The culture within BAPD has changed; helping connect the individual with treatment is priority, and building relationship becomes key in preventing crisis in the future.

In the spring of 2014, Chief Hartinger helped sponsor two forty-hour CIT programs in Blue Ash, inviting surrounding jurisdictions to attend.  He teaches a segment during the training to address tactical police response to persons in extreme crisis situations.  Chief Hartinger knows that providing officers with the tools to do their job can have a positive impact on the affected individuals and families in crisis, and perhaps improve their quality of life in the long run.

Chief Hartinger was promoted to his position in May of 2013, and has been with the Blue Ash Police Department since 1989.