National Alliance on Mental Illness honors Detective Grouns as its inaugural Officer of the Year

The Big Island chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness recently honored Hawai‘i Police Department Detective Jason Grouns with its first Crisis Intervention Team Officer of the Year award.

Grouns was presented with the award Oct. 11, just prior to the 2025 NAMIWalks event at Wailoa River State Recreation Area in Hilo — which drew dozens of participants from around Hawai‘i Island — to raise awareness about mental health issues and support community-based resources.

The 26-year veteran of the department assigned to the Area I Juvenile Aid Section was honored for his leadership in spearheading and implementing Crisis Intervention Team officer training. Grouns also served as honorary chairman of this year’s annual NAMIWalks event.

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

More than 20% of Hawai‘i Police Department officers in Crisis Intervention Team training have been certified under the leadership of Grouns.

“[Crisis Intervention Team] aims to improve [officer] response to individuals experiencing mental health issues and assist with appropriate care and support,” said NAMIWalks Big Island Manager Susan McGovern.

His journey began in 2018 when he was trained in Crisis Intervention Team procedure and immediately began planning to get more department embers trained. The COVID-19 pandemic delayed those plans until 2022, when a partnership with NAMI Hawai‘i reignited his efforts.

“By November 2022, we held our first [Crisis Intervention Team] class in Hilo. Since then, it’s been full steam ahead!” said Grouns in the announcement. “We’ve committed to holding two trainings a year — one in East Hawai‘i, and one in West Hawai‘i.”

Contact McGovern at 808-640-5686 or via email at susan_mcgovern@hotmail.com for additional information about NAMI Big Island.