Sheriff Tom Knight is pleased to announce Lieutenant Charles Kenniff recently received the Don and Judy Turnbaugh Crisis Intervention Team Award by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Florida.

On September 12, during NAMI Florida’s 2020 Virtual Speaker Series, Lieutenant Charles Kenniff was presented with the Don and Judy Turnbaugh Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Award for his outstanding knowledge and dedication to the advancement of CIT training, programs, and services in the community. Kenniff has served with the sheriff’s office for nearly 30 years and currently manages the agency’s Training Section. As a certified CIT coordinator, he is the lead facilitator and CIT trainer for law enforcement across Sarasota County. Additionally, Kenniff has been involved with NAMI in Sarasota and Manatee counties since 2004, including serving on the Board of Directors for the last six years. He regularly presents at classes hosted by NAMI and participates in their “End the Silence” program for middle and high school students.

“It is a privilege to have someone of Lieutenant Kenniff’s caliber on staff. He understands the many complexities of mental illness and how law enforcement should interact with those in crisis,” said Sheriff Knight. “As a result of the CIT training Lieutenant Kenniff presents to our employees, we are better prepared to serve the community in which we live.”

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 800.273.TALK (8255). Learn more about NAMI by visiting their website at www.namisarasotacounty.org or by calling 941.444.3428.