April 15, 2022

Senators helping law enforcement pay for mental health resources, equipment, training - KRNV

<p&gtSenator Catherine Cortez Mast was in Reno talking with local law enforcement leaders about federal funding already secured for issues officers face and the challenges that need future financial attention. {/p}
<p>Senator Catherine Cortez Mast was in Reno talking with local law enforcement leaders about federal funding already secured for issues officers face and the challenges that need future financial attention. {/p}

WASHOE COUNTY, Nev. (News 4 & Fox 11) — Big changes and a lot of money are coming to law enforcement agencies in and outside of Washoe County, but officers said during a roundtable that there's even more needed.

Senator Catherine Cortez Mast was in Reno talking with local law enforcement leaders about federal funding already secured for issues officers face and the challenges that need future financial attention.

Mental health resources

One of the big topics of discussion was mental health resources.

"We have a long way to go in terms of mental health and it all leads into so many other challenges in our region," said Reno Police Chief Jason Soto. "It's not police officers that are going to fix this challenge we have in front of us [the Mental Health Crisis], it's professionals. "

Senator Cortez Masto similarly said, "Law enforcement shouldn't respond to [a mental behavioral or mental health crisis], it should be responded to by local crisis intervention units. That way we're not sending law enforcement and we're not filling our jails with people who actually need mental health services from clinicians, clinics and hospitals."

To highlight the point about filling the jails, Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam shared the numbers from one day in March at the jail:

  • 1,178 inmates
  • 60%-70% with a confirmed mental health diagnosis
  • 40% on a mental health medication

"The mental health crisis we're in was here before the pandemic," said Sheriff Balaam. " But I can tell you these last two years have only increased the amount of mental health services that we need and that we're seeing in our facility and in our community."

To help, Senators Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen secured the Washoe County Sheriff's Office $2.3-million from the Fiscal Year 2022 omnibus appropriations package for a new mental health treatment facility.

New radio system for SPD

The senators also secured the Sparks Police Department $1.4-million from the package to replace their radio system Deputy Chief Clinte Bellamy called defunct and archaic.

"With all the hills, the mountains, the valleys, we have so many dead spots," said Deputy Chief Bellamy. "Imagine a major critical incident, a mass casualty incident, you need the best communication possible."

And that's what he said SPD planned to get with a Project 25 radio system. He said it would last 10 to 25 years and allow officers to communicate with law partners, fire fighters and emergency medical services.

Helping smaller police departments

Senator Cortez Masto and the law enforcement leaders also talked about the challenges of smaller agencies.

The senator introduced the Invest to Protect Act of 2022 in early March. It would give $500-million over five years to agencies with fewer than 200 members.

"Smaller police departments are strapped sometimes just hiring and retaining officers or training them or actually getting them the equipment they need."

Sparks Deputy Chief Bellamy said of the 40 in Nevada, 35 would qualify for the help.

"This is money they didn't have," he said. "It's going to be incredible for these smaller agencies so that they can increase the level of services they provide their citizens.

The grant would help pay for things like de-escalation and domestic violence training, overtime, body cameras or other equipment, and mental health training and support.

From Nevada to Washington

Senator Masto said, the bi-partisan bills she co-sponsored and introduced that funded and may fund these things aren't issues divided by the political aisle and that they are issues all communities across the country focus on.

"This is a great opportunity for the people of the state of Nevada to see the collaboration that can happen when people get in a room and we're really trying to solve problems," she said. "Not making it a partisan, but really try to come together and figure out what our community needs and then I go back to Washington and fight for it and bring it back here."



source: https://mynews4.com/news/local/lawmakers-helping-law-enforcement-pay-for-mental-health-resources-equipment-training

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