FORSYTH, Mo. – Forsyth Police Chief Jack Gates announces a new service to the community involving officers aiding in a mental health crisis.
Chief Gates says the police department and Burrell Health Services are teaming together to help those experiencing a mental or emotional crisis through video-conferencing:
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Burrell Health Services provided the department with free iPads that will be available to officers 24 hours a day and seven days a week.
Gates says the necessary training for police officers is only about 15 minutes. He added that the national average of people with mental illnesses that come into contact with a law enforcement officer is about 15-percent.