09/11/2025
Fayette County First Responders Celebrated for Use of Crisis Intervention Skills During a Behavioral Health Emergency
Washington Court House, OH — On September 4, 2025; the Paint Valley Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health (ADAMH) Board recognized the heroic actions and critical use of crisis intervention skills used by first responders from the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office and the Washington Court House Police Department during an incident earlier this summer.
Several law enforcement officers had responded to a call involving a firearm and a behavioral health crisis. They were able to safely and successfully de-escalate the situation using skills they had acquired in crisis intervention training.
Sheriff Vernon P. Stanforth opened with words of gratitude and praise for the entire sheriff’s office and the police officers who responded to assist. “Our officers respond to behavior health crisis almost daily. During this incident, they ran to and not away from danger. They all responded well, and they worked like clockwork,” Stanforth said. “The officers from Washington Court House didn’t have to respond but they did because they knew that their fellow officers needed them. The skills that they all displayed that night were commendable. As a Sheriff, I knew this could go wrong in so many ways, but all who responded did not underreact or overreact. They responded appropriately. Hats off to my deputies and the city police as well.”
Paint Valley ADAMH Executive Director Melanie Swisher commended the officers and deputies on their actions that day and, along with Associate Director Kelly Dennis, awarded them awards of excellence.
“Our first responders come to work every day not knowing if they will return to their families at the end of their shift. The decisions and skills these first responders used to keep both our community and the individual safe were second to none,” Swisher said. “The situation could have ended with loss of life but instead ended with someone connected to help. We are so grateful for the actions of each and every person who responded to this call. I cannot thank them enough.”
Those presented awards of excellence are:
• Lt. Mike Warnecke, Fayette County Sheriff’s Office
• Sgt. Charles Kyle, Fayette County Sheriff’s Office
• Sgt. Brian Dement, Fayette County Sheriff’s Office
• Sgt. Howard Wood, Fayette County Sheriff’s Office
• Dep. Darren Harrison, Fayette County Sheriff’s Office
• Dep. Errol Ennis, Fayette County Sheriff’s Office
• Dep. Blake Hammock, Fayette County Sheriff’s Office
• Dep. Austin Rolfe, Fayette County Sheriff’s Office
• Dep. Kaylyn Huddleson, Fayette County Sheriff's Office
• Dep. Grace Adair, Fayette County Sheriff’s Office
• Dep. Adrienne Russell, Fayette County Sheriff’s Office
• Dep. Kolton Jackson, Fayette County Sheriff’s Office
• Dep. Ethan Johnson, Fayette County Sheriff’s Office
• Off. Adam Rummer, Washington Court House Police
• Off. Gavin Moore, Washington Court House Police
Plaques commemorating the officer’s heroic actions also were given to both the Fayette County Sheriff's Office and the Washington Court House Police Department.
For questions, information, or follow up, please contact:
Paint Valley ADAMH
contactus@pvadamh.org
740-773-2283
