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Date: 6/21/2021
WEST SPRINGFIELD – The West Springfield Police Department (WSPD) recently announced their partnership in a co-response program with Behavioral Health Network Inc., (BHN) of Springfield.
According to information provided by Reichelt, “BHN is a state-licensed, State Office of Minority and Women Business Assistance-certified, nonprofit human service agency that has been providing services for children, adults, and elders of the Western Massachusetts area since 1938. BHN offers access to a variety of treatment and care services, including but not limited to outpatient therapy, substance abuse counseling, intensive outpatient program services among many other services, which are provided within a rehabilitation and recovery framework.”
Reichelt added, “The aim of the program is to decrease the involvement in the criminal justice systems of persons in crime.”
According to a press release from Reichelt’s office, the mayor has supported WSPD Chief Paul Connor’s efforts to pursue “alternative law enforcement strategies that recognize and adapt to the unique needs of the residents of West Springfield.” In the new co-responder program, WSPD and BHN will collaborate in initiating crisis response when the Police Department receives calls “involving mental health crises, homelessness, substance abuse or other calls which may be appropriate for diversion from the criminal justice system.”
Sgt. Joe LaFrance, WSPD public information officer said, “We recognized that in the last several years, there has been a large increase in calls for service involving persons in some level of crisis.”
As a result, responding officers would evaluate the situation, often leading to an evaluation via emergency room transport by a West Springfield Fire Department ambulance.
Nearby towns that utilize the co-response program include Springfield, Chicopee and Holyoke. LaFrance said West Springfield police spoke with those agencies about their programs and they all reported that the program has been working well in their communities.
“A Memorandum of Understanding was agreed upon and the program started in April,” said LaFrance.
He explained that the BHN has assigned the WSPD a full-time mental health clinician who works the afternoon and evening shift, four days a week. “She has an office and she is assigned a police radio and call sign. The clinician monitors the radio and reports to the scene when requested by the responding officers.”
In other events, based on what the clinician hears on the radio, she may start driving towards the location. The clinician does not ride with an officer to the scene, unless there is an emergency.
“The clinician does not respond to the scene alone, she waits for the officers to report a safe scene and the officers stay with her until the scene is cleared. After a briefing from the officers and speaking with the person in crisis, the clinician determines the best services for the person,” said LaFrance.