TRAVERSE CITY — Traverse City Police Officer Krista Fryczynski earned state recognition for her efforts in serving those experiencing homelessness.
Kate Dahlstrom, president and treasurer of National Alliance on Mental Illness Grand Traverse, presented the NAMI Michigan 2025 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award during a meeting of the TCPD Resilience Program, formerly the Quick Response Team, Thursday morning.
The annual award is given to a law enforcement officer who demonstrates exemplary commitment to increasing awareness, passion, training, and understanding of people living with mental illness and substance use disorder.
The award was a surprise to Fryczynski, who was “speechless” but happy about the recognition. She said she was thankful for her position in the department which has “definitely changed the way I view policing and my priorities.”
Fryczynski serves as the North Boardman (NOBO) neighborhood community affairs officer and as the LGBTQ+ liaison. She is at the homeless shelter daily to build trust and “knows the name of each person staying at the shelter and nearly all who are unsheltered in the community,” Dahlstrom said.
She also helps people get into treatment, directly facilitating over 20 enrollments into withdrawal treatment programs in 2025, and supports people as they work toward their goals, Dahlstrom said.
Jennifer Holm, TCPD Social Worker Coordinator, said that Fryczynski’s job can be “very difficult, very repetitive” but getting people help, following through and providing accountability “is so huge.”
“I’m so grateful for all that you do. And honestly, I think everyone in this room would agree this award is well deserved,” she said.
Dahlstrom told the story of how Fryczynski got an individual, who had been getting in trouble with the police regularly, into recovery. “This was the first time in his life he ever sought treatment,” she said, and he now has permanent housing in the recovery community.
She said that other program participants felt Fryczynski impacted their lives, with one stating “I have a new start, because of you.” Another said that “other people say they’re going to be there for me, and then they get sick of me. But she really means it. She just keeps showing up for me.”
Chief Matthew Richmond said that the Resilience Program is the result of everyone at the meeting and “Krista is a huge part of that, she’s a huge part of our department.”
“You will not find a harder working officer and a more passionate, compassionate officer within our department. If things happen outside in her area or with people involved with this program, she takes it personally,” he said. “She seeks out the best remedy to make sure that they are healthy and getting the help that they deserve.”
More Information About RESILIENCE The Traverse City Police Department’s RESILIENCE Program features a network of 60 partners that coordinate to support those experiencing homelessness, substance use and mental health issues. The name is an acronym that stands for Resources to Empower, Support, and Improve the Lives of Individuals Engaging in a Network of Collaborative Enrichment. “We try to support people with the goals that they have, with connections to community agencies who can help meet their needs directly. We try to empower the community through establishing participant-led goals and solving what we call potholes,” Jennifer Holm, TCPD social worker coordinator, said. The voluntary program has had 550 referrals to the program, served over 300 people and manages a caseload of around 120 people at any given time. About National Alliance on Mental Illness The Michigan branch of the NAMI, which has over 700 affiliates, asked Dahlstrom to present the award during their annual conference in May. The group focuses on educating the public about mental illness, works to eliminate the stigma and advocates for increased funding for research into the causes and treatment of mental illness. The Grand Traverse affiliate offers classes, support groups and resources related to mental health issues.