Thornton PD Co-Responder Program
Mission Statement:
The mission of the Thornton PD Co-Responder Program (Co-Responder Program) is to promote wellness and safety in our community by providing effective and compassionate behavioral health response and intervention.
Our paired response model: A team approach
A master’s level mental health clinician and a CIT trained dedicated officer are paired and dispatched in a patrol car. Because Co-Responder teams respond to 911 calls that are unpredictable and potentially dangerous, the presence of an officer ensures safety for the Co-Responder clinician and others on scene.
De-escalation and Safety: Co-Responders respond to scenes in which there are people who may be agitated and upset due to a behavioral health issue. Co-Responders are trained to tell why a person may be behaving in an unusual way and to de-escalate the individual using an informed approach. This approach decreases the need for police to use force. Co-Responders then determine whether someone can remain safe on scene. Alternatively, we can transport someone to a more secure setting such as an emergency, walk-in crisis center or detox facility.
After a crisis: Following up and getting people the right resources. Co-Responder teams follow up with people after crises to determine and address ongoing safety issues and to refer them to mental health, substance use treatment and other resources. We provide additional follow-up thereafter to determine whether someone is engaged in ongoing care, and, if not, helping to identify and reduce barriers to getting into treatment.
Opiate Use Disorders and other substance use disorders: Over 100,000 people die of overdoses per year in this country (more than suicides and homicides combined). Most of those overdose deaths are due to opiates, and primarily Fentanyl. A big focus of the Thornton Co-Responder program is to prevent overdose fatalities by providing those at risk with Narcan, an opiate overdose reversal drug. Additionally, we partner with Denver Recovery Group, to provide long-term treatment to those with Opiate Use Disorders.
*************Opiate Use Disorders Resource Sheet: (see attached)****************
Denver Recovery Group: https://www.denverrecoverygroup.com/
Fentanyl Fact Sheet: One Pill Can Kill | DEA.gov
Need Narcan or other assistance for a mental health or substance issue? Click here. [Please provide email link here]
How to reach us:
720-977-5229
Meet the Team
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Demacio Antillon (Co-Responder Officer)
Officer Antillon started working for the Thornton Police Department in 2018 as a cadet, then joined as a police officer in 2019. Officer Antillon spent almost 5 years on patrol before joining the co-response team and completing crisis intervention training. He is also a member of the dignitary protection team and is the coordinator of the co-responder portion of the behavioral threat assessment team.
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Nora Sullivan LPC, LMFT, LAC (Co-Responder Clinician/Team Lead)
Nora has worked in the mental health/substance use field for over 25 years in a variety of environments with a multitude of populations. After working as a Co-Responder for Westminster Police Department, Nora was selected to create and lead the co-response program for Thornton Police Department. While not a Colorado native, Nora has been living in the Denver area since she began her career in mental health, after obtaining her Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology at the University of Colorado Denver.
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Jennifer Gentry (Co-Responder Officer)
Officer Gentry has worked for the Thornton Police Department since 2014. After spending over one year as a dispatcher, she decided to become a police officer. Officer Gentry completed crisis intervention training several years ago and has helped people in crisis both over the phone and in person. Officer Gentry also completed her Bachelor of Psychology at University of Colorado Boulder in 2013. While working on patrol, Officer Gentry was also certified and worked as a field training officer (FTO).
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Ellen Pronio, LCSW (Co-Responder Clinician)
Ellen was the first clinician to join the Thornton Police Department Co-Response Team in September 2023. Ellen obtained her Master’s Degree in Social Work as well as a certificate in Animal Assisted Social Work from the University of Denver in 2017. Prior to joining the team, Ellen worked as a school social worker and a Co-Responder in Douglas County where she completed crisis intervention training (CIT).
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Serena Avilez, LCSW (Co-Responder Clinician)
Serena joined Thornton Police Department’s Co-Response Team in March 2024 after moving to Colorado. Serena has experience working as a hospital social worker and is licensed in both California and Colorado. In 2014, Serena completed a dual degree which includes a Master of Social Work and Master of Public Health from the University of Southern California. Serena completed crisis intervention training alongside police officers, helping her get more experience working in a co-response setting.
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Lexi Jekich (Co-Responder Officer)
Officer Jekich joined the Thornton Police Department in 2017 and joined the Co-Response team in July of 2024. Prior to becoming a police officer, she obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from Metropolitan State University in 2014. Officer Jekich also has an Associate’s Degree in Chemistry from Front Range Community College which she obtained in 2012. Officer Jekich completed crisis intervention training and has been to FBI negotiator school, both prior to joining the team. Officer Jekich’s additional responsibilities include doing intel for the dignitary protection team as well as teaching new recruits how to search databases for information.