The City of Hilliard Division of Police is proud to announce that Lt. Tyler Harris has been recognized with the prestigious FBI Director’s Award for his leadership and dedication to preventing school violence through proactive threat assessment and management efforts.
Lt. Harris was presented the award by FBI Special Agent in Charge Jason Cromartie in acknowledgment of his innovative work in strengthening school safety partnerships.
The recognition stems from establishing a district-wide Threat Assessment and Threat Management Team in collaboration with Hilliard City Schools and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The team’s mission is to identify juveniles in crisis early and provide support and intervention to keep them off the pathway of violence.
“Recognizing the growing need for proactive identification and intervention of potential threats, Lt. Harris spearheaded the initiative to create a multidisciplinary team that has since become a model for others across Central Ohio,” according to FBI Special Agent Gabi Vogt, who nominated him for the award.
This initiative is not about reacting to threats — it is about preventing them. By bringing together school administrators, mental health professionals, and law enforcement, the team works to recognize concerning behaviors, assess risk using research-based methods, and ensure students receive the help they need long before situations escalate.
“This award reflects the strength of our partnership and our shared commitment to prevention,” said Chief of Police Michael Woods “Lt. Harris has been instrumental in building a model program that prioritizes early intervention and collaboration. Because of this work, our schools are better equipped to support students in crisis and maintain the safe learning environment our community expects and deserves.”
What began in Hilliard has quickly become a blueprint for other communities. Lt. Harris, alongside Agent Vogt and Lt. Jason Stern of the Grove City Division of Police, has met with agencies across the region to share guidance on creating effective Threat Assessment and Threat Management teams. The State of Ohio School Safety Office and the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office have also sought input on this growing best practice.
Their collaborative approach will be highlighted at the 2026 Ohio School Safety Summit, hosted by the Ohio School Safety Center. The training emphasizes the importance of communication and coordination among stakeholders and introduces science-backed methods for evaluating and triaging concerning behavior.
School safety remains a top priority in Hilliard. The strong, ongoing partnership between the City of Hilliard Division of Police and Hilliard City Schools is widely regarded as a best practice across Ohio — a proactive, prevention-focused model centered on care, communication, and community trust.
“We are incredibly grateful for Lt. Harris and the entire Hilliard Division of Police for their leadership and steadfast commitment to keeping our students safe,” said Hilliard City Schools Superintendent David Stewart. “This recognition speaks not only to Lt. Harris’s vision, but to the strength of our partnership.”
Stewart added, “We are equally proud of the dedication of our Deputy Superintendent Mike McDonough and our school-based teams who work side by side with law enforcement each day to identify students in need of support. Together, we are focused on prevention, early intervention, and ensuring every student has access to the care and resources they need to thrive.”
