OPD strengthens mental health response with training

The Oxford Police Department (OPD) is working to strengthen its response to mental health crises through renewed training, community partnerships and recertification in a global policing initiative.

According to Oxford Police Chief John Jones, the OPD has completed its pledge to the One Mind Campaign, which urges local police departments to improve law enforcement response to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis.

The training, which requires all staff to be certified in mental health first aid, aims to improve officers’ understanding and education on mental health crises and resources.

Part of this campaign includes partnering with a local organization to improve relationships and resources. OPD has partnered with Butler Behavioral Health Services and the Coalition for a Healthy Community.

This year, Jones and the OPD is in the process of recertifying their pledge to the campaign.

The training for the recertification was paid for by a grant from Mental Health America of Northern Kentucky and Southwest Ohio (MHA), according to Jones.

One of the requirements is for 20% of staff to be certified as members of the crisis intervention team (CIT). In April, members of the OPD will attend a week-long training course to become certified.

The course pairs mental health professionals with officers and creates relationships and resources on the county-level, according to OPD Lieutenant Adam Price.

“The CIT is really helpful in establishing those resources,” Price said of the training. “I think it’s just another tool in our tool belt.” 

Price shared that the workbook required for the training covers a variety of topics of mental health and how officers can properly help individuals experiencing these crises.

“It’s good training,” Jones added. “I think we get good experience dealing with a range of behaviors.”

The program began in 2016 and has been completed by over 200 agencies worldwide, and according to Price, the OPD was the first agency in Butler County to complete the certification.

Jones said that he has seen an increase in mental health calls since he started his job in Oxford.

“It used to not be as common,” Jones said. “Now it’s, I would say, an everyday occurrence to respond to someone that’s either in crisis … or someone who’s got a substance abuse issue.”

Jones said that the training not only helps officers assist individuals in the community, but helps the officer look inward to identify any personal mental health issues, if any.

“An officer that’s more aware of mental health, first aid (and) emotional intelligence is improving the response to the community, which, therefore, improves public safety overall,” Jones said.