Senator Helming Announces Crisis Intervention Funding for Local Sheriffs

GENEVA – Senator Pam Helming today announced that the Sheriff’s Offices in Ontario, Seneca, and Wayne Counties have received funding for Crisis Intervention Team training. This important funding covers mental health training, materials, and overtime for police officers. With this funding from the New York State Office of Mental Health, police officers will learn how to identify mental health situations so that officers can respond appropriately and keep our communities safe.

“It is important that we highlight the positive relationships that police officers form on a daily basis and provide them with the tools and resources they need to help mentally ill people. This critical funding will allow that very thing to happen by giving our Sheriff’s Offices in three counties the training and skills they need to appropriately interact with a person experiencing a mental health crisis. This Crisis Intervention Team training will give our Sheriff’s Offices the resources they need to better protect our communities. I commend Sheriff Povero, Sheriff Luce, and Sheriff Virts for taking advantage of this opportunity. As State Senator, I will continue to work with our local law enforcement agencies to support our police officers and ensure they have the training and equipment they need,” Senator Helming said.

Ontario County Sheriff Philip C. Povero said, “On behalf of the Ontario County Office of Sheriff, I sincerely thank Senator Helming for her effort in providing these funds for this critical law enforcement training. Unfortunately, our police officers find themselves in increasing situations where they encounter individuals with mental health issues. This training should allow law enforcement to develop greater understanding when responding to calls for service involving people who have mental health issues. Enhancing public safety is an ultimate goal of this training.”

Seneca County Sheriff W. Timothy Luce said, “This is a great collaboration between mental health and law enforcement to serve the people in the community with mental health issues.”

Wayne County Sheriff Barry C. Virts said, “Wayne County law enforcement officers answer on average 30 psychiatric calls a week and encounter several other individuals with mental illness on a regular basis while performing their duties. The mental health training secured by Senator Helming will help law enforcement better understand and serve this population.”

Senator Helming represents the 54^th Senate District, which consists of Seneca and Wayne Counties, parts of Cayuga and Ontario Counties, and the towns of Lansing and Webster. For more information, please visit Senator Helming’s website, or follow @SenatorHelming on Facebook or Twitter.

###