GREEN BAY (NBC26) -- The Green Bay Police Department wants to add more specially trained officers on staff to prevent mental health disorders from turning into serious incidents.
They'd like to do that by expanding the department's behavioral health unit, which currently consists of two officers and one county social worker who assist those in the community struggling with mental health.
"Having a mental health unit here combined with social workers is a tremendous asset for the city of Green Bay," said Chief Andrew Smith, Green Bay Police Department.
Smith said there are certain areas the department isn't providing as good of service as it could. He said right now, adding a second team to the behavioral health unit would help those in need of mental health care.
About one-third of officers with GBPD have completed Community Crisis Intervention Training, a 40-hour program where officers learn how to handle situations involving major mental illness, de-escalation techniques and local resources to assist people experiencing a mental health crisis.
Officers in the behavioral health unit have even more training in mental health related incidents.
Working closely with the social worker, these officers can identify crisis triggers and de-escalation tactics specific to the individual before making contact with them. They also keep track of police calls and logs to work on prevention and intervening before that person is put in jail.
For people with mental health disorders, the team will create a 911 checklist for what to expect and how to prepare if police are called during a crisis.
With only one team right now, Smith said the department needs more people with this skilled training.
"I think as we see across the country, individuals that are having mental health difficulties get involved in a lot more police interactions. Sometimes those interactions are not pleasant. Sometimes they result in tragedies," Smith said. "If we can prevent those things from happening, I think it's time well spent. It's certainly money well spent to have officers out there doing that every day."
GBPD currently has 185 sworn officers and is asking the city council to allow for two more in the budget. That would let two seasoned officers transition into the behavioral health unit once they get the required training.
Smith said they're also hoping the county will provide another social worker to join the team. If approved, the behavioral health unit would then consist of four officers and two county social workers for almost around the clock care.
"If we can do a better job for them by hiring social workers and specially training our officers, then I think it's a win for everybody," Smith said. "Most importantly it's a win for those people in our community that our suffering from mental illness."
The proposed 2021 police budget would have an increase of $367,101 from 2020. The city council is set to discuss it in November.
