Announcements

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority honored the Cuyahoga County Diversion Center with its 2025 Partner of the Year Award. GCRTA Police Chief Deirdre Jones nominated the Cuyahoga County Diversion Center for the award which was presented at the Transit Authority's annual awards dinner.

The RTA Partner of the Year Award is presented to an organization that has made outstanding contributions to community mobility and strategic partnerships. Criteria for winning the award includes exceptional collaboration with the RTA; positive impact on the community and its transit riders; and excellence in leadership and innovation.

Chief Jones said that the Cuyahoga County Diversion Center provides an opportunity for Transit Police officers to assist individuals who may benefit from intervention in lieu of arrest. "The Center offers programs where individuals suspected of certain crimes, particularly those related to substance abuse, mental health crises, or minor offenses, are connected with treatment or social services instead of being immediately arrested and processed through the traditional criminal justice system."

Transit Police have referred more than 100 individuals to the Diversion Center. Chief Jones explained that the Cuyahoga County Diversion Center addresses an individual's circumstances. "Once admitted to the Center, the individual participates in an intervention plan that addresses their specific needs, such as substance abuse treatment, mental health support, or housing assistance."

Oriana House Executive Vice President Mike Randle said the commitment that Greater Cleveland RTA has for its riders and the communities it serves is evident through this award. "RTA's shared priority of the welfare of all has increased access to life-changing services for individuals who need connected to care in the community and we are grateful and proud to be part of that."

Randle added, "The collaboration fostered by Chief Jones and all of the RTA staff has created a partnership that we greatly appreciate and recognize the many ways it benefits all residents of Cuyahoga County."

Oriana House Executive Vice President Mike Randle, Cuyahoga County Diversion Center Clinical Manager Sarah Tkac, and Cuyahoga County Diversion Center Clinical Coordinator Sheena Cameron (L to R in photo) accepted the award.