Speaker's Profile

Frank is the Crisis Services Public Safety Coordinator at Mercy Care Regional Behavioral Health Authority (RBHA), where he has dedicated nearly a decade to providing essential crisis intervention training and support to public safety personnel. He specializes in assisting law enforcement and first responders in navigating and troubleshooting the robust SAMHSA best practice crisis system, utilizing the comprehensive 5-pillared model from CIT International. With 25 years of service at the Scottsdale Police Department, Frank retired as a lieutenant. He spent 10 of those years as a SWAT crisis/hostage negotiator and served as the CIT program manager for nine years, overseeing crisis intervention training within the department. His deep understanding of the challenges faced by public safety teams, coupled with his hands-on experience in high-stakes crisis situations, allows him to offer practical, real-world solutions. Frank holds a master’s degree in criminal justice from Arizona State University, where he focused on the intersection of criminal justice and behavioral health systems, a topic he continues to explore in his current role. His work has made him a key figure in bridging the gap between public safety and behavioral health, fostering safer and more effective crisis response.