It’s always nice when offices and agencies that serve the public can work together on developing more ways to help people in need. We are pleased to announce that the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with the Geauga Board of Mental Health and Recovery Services, has launched a new crisis response director position. Tracy Jordan, who has served as the victim advocate at the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office for 22 years, will be stepping into the new role. The crisis response director’s position is designed to offer immediate, compassionate support to individuals and families facing trauma from the aftermath of an overdose, suicide, or other critical incidents. It serves as a bridge between first-response and long-term mental health and recovery services.
Jordan said she is very excited to be taking on this new position, which is more than just a job to her. “I’ve learned that a crisis doesn’t look the same for everyone,” Jordan said. “But what people need most in those moments is the same someone who shows up, listens, and helps them take their next step. We’re seeing more complex trauma, more mental health struggles, and more families affected by addiction, suicide, and violence. The needs are greater and more urgent than ever.
This new position will help connect individuals and families to critical services, including treatment, peer support, and grief resources. Christine Lakomiak, executive director of the Geauga Board of Mental Health and Recovery Services, said providing long-term benefits for those in need is key, as opposed to being just a one-time option. “Our teams don’t just show up once — we follow up and connect people to help, healing, and hope,” Lakomiak said.
In 22 years as the victim advocate at the sheriff’s office, Jordan said she has responded to thousands of calls for domestic violence, sexual assault, suicide, overdoses, fatal crashes, and some of the hardest moments in people’s lives. “This isn’t about enforcement, it’s about compassion,” Jordan said. “It’s about standing beside someone, not above them. After 22 years, I truly believe that when we work together, we can make sure no one falls through the cracks. I’ve sat with grieving parents, comforted victims at crime scenes, and walked with survivors through the court process,” she added. “You don’t stay in this work unless it means something to you. For me, it’s never just been a job, it’s been a calling.”
Jordan has completed extensive training in trauma response, grief support, crisis intervention, and victim advocacy. She has worked side-by-side with law enforcement, mental health professionals, and community organizations to create a web of care for people in crisis.
