Lately, it seems as if there are more negative news stories about police officers than there have been positive ones. Media coverage focuses on excessive force, aggressive tactics or inadequate and poorly managed responses. While police officers are under scrutiny like never before, what often goes unnoticed is the behind-the-scenes work that many do to engage with the community they are responsible for protecting.

As a manager of programs delivering behavioral health and co-occurring rehabilitative services, I believe it’s beneficial for people with lived experience to educate our local enforcement agencies about mental health, services that we provide and the recovery process.

Recently, our organization hosted a roundtable discussion with the help of the Allegheny County Coalition for Recovery. People receiving support services, therapists, clinicians and Pittsburgh police officers from Zone 5 came together to have an honest and open dialogue. Our conversation focused on how we can achieve a better understanding with one another.

Statistics prove that individuals with a mental illness are more likely to be the victim of a crime rather than the perpetrator. Additionally, if an overdose or attempted suicide occurs, police officers are normally the first ones to respond to the scene. When officers interact with individuals who have a mental illness, the way in which they respond greatly influences the outcome. Thank you to the officers of Zone 5 for taking the time to listen and hear our perspective.

MARCI STURGEON-RUSIEWICZ
Senior Manager of Recovery Services
Wesley Family Services
New Kensington

First Published: October 16, 2017, 4:00 a.m.