Jackson police add social workers to the force

LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — The Jackson Police Department is using a new tool to help cut crime—social workers. They say it’s already starting to pay off.

In July, the department hired a social worker to split her time between a clinic and the department, as well as a Group Violence Intervention Coordinator to follow up after an incident occurs.

When someone is in a mental health crisis, there is often only one number to call—911. However, when police show up, unless they see someone committing a crime, there are a limited number of ways they can help.

However now, these new employees can ride along with officers and offer support for people in crisis or people dealing with a domestic situation.

They can also show up in the aftermath of a crime and point victims and witnesses toward community resources that could help.

Department officials tell 6 News this is one part of a growing focus on mental health and its role in law enforcement.

“Hopefully law enforcement as a whole understands the importance of dealing with mental health in their communities. And I can tell you certainly anecdotally that a lot of our responses on a daily basis in some way have an aspect of mental health tied into them,” says Elmer Hitt, Director of the Jackson Police Department. “So again, anything we can do as a community to enhance the level of service we provide to assist those that may need assistance in the mental health world is critically important.”

The department has also been training its officers on how to respond better to people who are having a mental crisis, but for now, police say these specialized workers have been a welcome addition.

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