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.
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.