"It is important because more and more our departments are being relied on to help out in these mental health situations," Franklin Police Chief Stephen Williams said. "With shrinking budgets, we need all the help we can get."
Williams said his department has always dealt with mental health situations by itself, but said they welcome assistance from a clinician for situations such as when a person did not take his medications and may be a threat to himself or others.
"The criminal system is not the place where a person with these types of issues should be in the first place," Williams said. "They should get help from clinicians and in hospital settings, not from inside a jail cell. We're not going to do them any help by placing them under arrest."
Williams and Upton Police Chief Michael Bradley said their departments do not have money available to hire clinicians without the grant.
Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x916009106/Milford-police-receive-grant-to-extend-mental-health-services-to-Bellingham-Franklin-Upton#ixzz1d11KIB6A
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