GEORGETOWN, Del.- The Georgetown Police Department is hoping to better serve those in their community suffering from addiction or mental health issues.
Due to a grant and a partnership with the Connections nonprofit, licensed mental health clinician Michelle Robinson is riding along with GPD officers. Robinson helps evaluate people who police encounter and may need professional help.
"[It's] just getting that immediate assistance when they are in that crisis," Robinson explains. "Because that's when it's most crucial: when someone has decided then they want the help and need the help to get it available to them right then."
Robinson is at the department 30 hours a week. In addition to ride alongs, she's available at the department itself and follows up on officer calls if necessary.
"If one of our police officers comes into contact with someone who we feel may be suffering from an addiction or some other mental health issues but at the time is not ready, we will get their information, give that to Michelle and she can do a follow up phone call," Chief R.L. Hughes tells WRDE.
Those with Connections say the program helps both those in addiction and those policing it.
"Typically police just use arrests. That's their tool and that's what they're supposed to do," says Amy Kevis, Connections' Director of Criminal Justice and Community Partnerships. "That's not a criticism. That's what they are supposed to do. So now they are looking at things a little bit differently and saying 'Hm, I have another option; I can also make an arrest but then I can get this person into treatment, and the clinician, Michelle Robinson, who is riding with the Georgetown police can help them do that."
The program has been put into place in the Smyrna and New Castle County departments. While this is Sussex County's first foray into the partnership, Chief Hughes hopes it has a lasting impact.
"If you always do what you've always done you always get what you always got," he says. "So we must find other ways to tackle this problem."
The Georgetown Police Department's grant runs through April, after which the future of the program will be assessed. For wellness and recovery help at any time, Connections' 24/7 number is 833-886-2277.
