HCPD Behavioral Health Program

About the Program

Category: Criminal Justice and Public Safety (Best in Category)

Year: 2023

The Henry County Police Department Behavioral Health Program was initiated to assist officers on the road when dealing with mentally ill individuals while on a police call. The initiative is a two-fold program that has far exceeded expectations for success. Henry County Government and HCPD, through Chief Mark Amerman, have prioritized mental health in the public safety sector as police calls more frequently have a mental health crises component. Chief Amerman initiated two priorities within the program, with the first one being Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) for all officers. The second part of the initiative was to hire a licensed professional counselor, certified in first response, who was authorized to assess an individual and determine if an individual involved in a police call/complaint would be better suited to be remanded to a mental health facility rather that the Henry County jail. Best practices show that for those suffering with a mental episode where police are called to intervene, routinely don’t get the treatment they need by being taken to jail. Having a mental health professional on call to immediately assess the situation keeps those individuals out of the jail system and into the healthcare system in order to receive treatment.