Detective Jason Grouns Honored by NAMI with Inaugural CIT Officer of the Year Award

The Big Island chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) honored Detective Jason Grouns with the first-ever Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Officer of the Year award on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, in Hilo.

The award was presented just prior to the annual NAMIWalks event at Wailoa River State Park, which drew dozens of participants from across Hawai‘i Island to raise awareness about mental health issues and support community-based resources.

Detective Grouns, a 26-year veteran of the department assigned to the Area I Juvenile Aid Section, was recognized for his leadership in spearheading and implementing CIT training for officers. Grouns also served as Honorary Chair of this year’s 2025 NAMIWalks event.

“Under his leadership, Hawai‘i Police Department, the County of Hawai‘i Mayor’s Office under current Mayor Dr. Kimo Alameda and former Mayor Mitch Roth, and NAMI Big Island have certified more than 20 percent of our law enforcement officers in Crisis Intervention Team training,” said Susan McGovern, NAMIWalks Big Island manager. “CIT aims to improve [officer] response to individuals experiencing mental health issues and assist with appropriate care and support.”

“Crisis Intervention Team training gives our officers the skills and understanding to approach mental health crises with empathy and professionalism,” said Interim Police Chief Reed Mahuna. “Detective Grouns’ dedication to expanding this program has strengthened our department’s ability to serve every member of our community with care and respect.”

Reflecting on the program’s growth within the department, Detective Grouns said, “My own journey started when I received my CIT training in 2018 and immediately began planning to get more department members trained,” said Grouns. He added that the pandemic delayed those plans until 2022, when a partnership with NAMI Hawai‘i reignited his efforts. “By November 2022, we held our first CIT class in Hilo. Since then, it’s been full steam ahead! We’ve committed to holding two trainings a year, one in East Hawai‘i, and one in West Hawai‘i.”

NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of millions of Americans affected by mental illness. The Hilo NAMIWalks event was one of 190 walks held nationwide to raise awareness, advocacy, and community support for mental wellness.   

For more information on NAMI Big Island, please contact Susan McGovern at (808) 640-5686 or via email susan_mcgovern@hotmail.com.