2024 Blue KC Answering the Call Honoree Mark Canovi – month of July
Calm During Crisis
The July recipient of the “Blue KC Answering the Call” award, sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City (Blue KC), is Marc Canovi, the Missouri CIT Regional Coordinator for Kansas City, Missouri and has been an officer with the Kansas City Police Department for the past 10+ years.
Officer Canovi’s roles and responsibilities stretch far and wide. He served as an Education Co-Chair for the Mid-American CIT council which assisted in training more than 2,000 officers on how to recognize, respond and de-escalate individuals in a behavioral health crisis. The training included providing them with the next steps of connecting the individual in crisis with the appropriate level of care, dignity and compassion.
He is also a member of the Kansas City Police Department’s negotiation team, which recently took first place in the Missouri Crisis Negotiation Challenge in May 2024 against other negotiation teams from across the state.
“When I began my career with the Kansas City Police Department, I was not aware that approximately 20-25% of all calls for service involve someone in a mental health, or behavioral health, crisis,” said Officer Canovi. “My education played a role in how I try to assist these individuals.”
He completed his two degrees at UMKC, obtaining a bachelor’s in criminal justice and criminology, as well as a degree in psychology. Through his education, he’s been able to successfully apply his learnings on a daily and continual basis throughout the Kansas City community, impacting countless citizens.
“My parents were great role models and my family gives me support to follow my passion of helping people in crisis,” said Canovi. “My wife, Sarah, has always been very supportive, even when I have missed holidays, dance recitals, plays, or sporting events. My two teenage children understand when I have to leave in the middle of dinner due to a barricaded party or other crisis.”
While each day is full of challenges, Officer Canovi understands that they’re also full of opportunities. He makes it his mission to be readily prepared for any type of situation he may find himself in. His education, his training, his family, and his strong, positive mentality ensures there are no situations he can’t handle. He advises anyone who is battling obstacles to take the first step in healing and getting back to their happy, healthy selves.
“I would recommend seeking help and confiding in someone who has your best interests in mind,” said Officer Canovi. “Call 988, they have trained professionals willing to assist. If it can’t be done over the phone, they are willing and able to send a mobile crisis response team, full of trained mental health professionals, to your location.” Blue KC and the Royals salute Officer Canovi for his commitment to bettering the lives of all Kansas Citians!
For more information on the Blue KC Answering the Call program, please click here
Blue KC supports the Kansas City community through impactful sports partnership programs
Blue KC Answering the Call
