Law enforcement officers' new approach to handling the mentally ill: April 28 Newsmaker

The evolution of policing and the new approach law enforcement officers in Virginia are taking to handle situations involving the mentally ill will be the focus of a National Press Club Newsmaker news conference on Thursday, April 28.

The event -- featuring Fairfax County Supervisor John Cook, Fairfax County Police Chief Ed Roessler, and Fairfax County Sheriff Stacey Kincaid -- will be held at 10 a.m. in the club’s Zenger Room. As with all Newsmakers, this news conference is open to credentialed media and Press Club members, free of charge. No advance registration is required.

Many in the law enforcement community feel ill equipped to handle suspects who are mentally ill. Yet, every day, police officers from across the nation are confronted by suspected offenders with mental health and emotional issues.

In Fairfax County, Virginia, a new program, ‘Diversion First,’ enables officers and deputies to assess a situation, de-escalate the crisis and resolve it on the spot. The program’s goal is to change the way that law enforcement and the judicial system interact with people who have intellectual or developmental disabilities. This program is being viewed as a model for other jurisdictions across the nation.

Contact:
David Hodes,
Deputy Chair, NPC Newsmaker Committee and Newsmaker Event Host
202-596-5037; [email protected]