Our Team
Dr. Abbott provides interactive Co-Response training to enhance collaboration between mental health professionals and law enforcement. Her practical approach focuses on real-world scenarios to improve teamwork and joint responses, working closely with police experts to deliver effective training outcomes.
Sgt. Jay Ball
Police Sergeant, Law Enforcement Consultant & Trainer
Sgt. Jay Ball is a seasoned law enforcement professional with over two decades of experience. A graduate of the MBTA Transit Police Academy’s 12th MPOC, he holds a B.S. in Criminal Justice from UMass Lowell and an M.S. in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Forensic Psychology from Liberty University. He currently serves as a Sergeant in the Framingham Police Department’s Community Impact Unit, following prior roles as a detective with the Metro West Drug Task Force and assignments in patrol, evidence, and school-based policing.
Sgt. Ball is an experienced instructor who teaches mental health, investigative, and narcotics courses to police officers, civilians, and government agencies, as well as at William James College. A certified Mental Health First Aid Instructor since 2018, he also serves as the Law Enforcement Liaison to the Middlesex County Veterans Treatment Court, supports the Governor’s Opioid Remediation Fund Committee, and chairs the Northbridge Trustees of Soldiers Memorials. A U.S. Army veteran, he brings extensive experience in crisis response, deployment, and supporting veterans and first responders in addressing mental health stigma.
Sgt. Justin Bonina
Police Sergeant, Law Enforcement & Crisis Negotiation Leader
Sgt. Justin Bonina has served with the Marlborough Police Department for 10 years, combining frontline experience with a strong academic and professional foundation. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and a Master’s of Public Administration. He has completed Harvard Business School’s flagship negotiation program, further enhancing his expertise in complex communication and strategic decision-making. In addition, Sgt. Bonina has undergone advanced hostage-negotiation training and is certified by the FBI in crisis negotiation.
Sgt. Bonina currently leads the CEMLEC SWAT Crisis Negotiation Team, bringing several years of operational experience in high-stakes environments. He has served as the primary negotiator in numerous critical incidents—including armed barricades, hostage situations, suicide interventions, active shooter responses, and other high-risk crises—consistently applying evidence-based strategies to achieve safe and effective resolutions.
Beyond his operational role, Sgt. Bonina provides consultation and specialized training for law enforcement agencies and multidisciplinary response teams across the region. His instruction focuses on crisis communication, de-escalation, tactical negotiation, and integrated response strategies, helping agencies enhance their capabilities and strengthen community-focused outcomes.
Officer Artie DePinho
Police Officer, Law Enforcement Consultant & Trainer
Officer Artie DePinho has been with the Boston Police Department since 2015 and is currently assigned to the Street Outreach Unit. In this position, Officer DePinho directly engages with individuals experiencing substance use disorders, mental illness, and homelessness. He connects them with services, provides resources, and aims to divert them from the criminal justice system whenever possible. The Street Outreach Unit is a key partner in Boston's Co-Response program, where Officer DePinho also contributes by training new clinicians joining the team.
Additionally, Officer DePinho has served as a guest speaker and trainer in the Graduate Certificate Program through the Center for Crisis Response and Behavioral Health at William James College, sharing valuable frontline insights on crisis intervention, outreach, and collaborative response models.
Robert Bonina
Retired Police Officer, Law Enforcement Consultant & Trainer
Robert Bonina is a retired police officer with over three decades of dedicated service in law enforcement, specializing in patrol operations, investigations, and crisis negotiation. He served with the Marlborough Police Department from 1990 until his retirement in 2023, balancing patrol duties and investigative work, including a stint as a Detective from 2007 to 2014. He played a key role in the Marlborough Co-Response Program, launched in 2005, which integrated clinicians into police responses to provide effective crisis intervention.
Joining CEMLEC as a SWAT Operator in 2007, he became the first SWAT Negotiator in 2009 and was promoted to Crisis Negotiations Team Leader in 2011. Bonina was pivotal in establishing the Worcester House of Corrections Crisis Negotiations Team and in embedding mental health professionals in SWAT operations, making CEMLEC a leader in humane crisis resolution.
Since retiring, he has been a guest speaker and trainer in the Graduate Certificate Program at the Center for Crisis Response and Behavioral Health at William James College, leveraging his extensive experience in law enforcement training and mental health integration.