Virginia Beach EMS Battalion Chief Selected as Virginia CIT Coalition’s First Responder of the Year

A battalion chief with Virginia Beach Emergency Medical Services was named the 2025 First Responder of the Year at the Virginia CIT Conference on Tuesday. EMS Battalion Chief Lyndee Tripp was recognized for her outstanding work in transforming the Virginia Beach EMS' Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Program. 

CIT training teaches Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Fire and Police verbal de-escalation tactics and mental health awareness when encountering a patient in crisis.    

Tripp has been integral in ensuring EMS providers gain valuable information that can be incorporated on calls with patients experiencing a mental health crisis. The CIT curriculum was originally designed for law enforcement — but Tripp has transformed it for relevancy to EMS providers with components of legal issues providers need to know. 

“Through her work, Chief Tripp has created meaningful and lasting change in the Virginia Beach community,” said Bruce Nedelka, EMS assistant chief. “The department is proud of Chief Tripp. Her contributions have made a lasting impact on EMS CIT graduates, and she continues to be a trailblazer and advocate for VBEMS.” 

About Virginia Beach Emergency Medical Services
EMS is an award-winning third-service agency that answers more than 56,000 calls for service annually. Through VB Rescue, EMS uses a combined career-volunteer workforce and was named a 2024 American Heart Association Mission: Lifeline Gold EMS Agency. Learn more about EMS by visiting ems.virginiabeach.gov. You can also contact Virginia Beach EMS at vbems@vbgov.com.