Mental Health Crisis Intervention

     The Arkansas City Police Department works hard to meet people where they are, this includes matters of mental health crisis intervention. ACPD has had a Crisis Intervention Officer since 2021, who works closely with individuals within our community that have had contact with our officers while in mental health crisis. Not only does this officer respond to calls for service when a mental health crisis is reported, they also provide follow up with the individual who was in crisis.

     In 2022, ACPD partnered with Four County Mental Health to create a Co-responder position that is based out of Four County Mental Health. This individual collaborates with our Crisis Intervention Officer and assists with follow up at Four County Mental Health.

     During 2022, ACPD also added K-9 Sal to help with Crisis Intervention efforts within the Arkansas City area. Sal is here not only to help with community events, but also is also here to provide his special brand of support to Officers and staff at our department. Our officers respond to critical incidents weekly. Continued exposure to critical incidents can have an adverse effect on an officer's mental and physical well-being. Only a few Kansas police agencies are currently using emotional support animals.

     K-9 Sal’s badge number is 988. He will be a constant reminder that help is only three numbers away when people find themselves or others in a mental health crisis. K-9 Sal will frequent our schools to help educate students about mental health. He will assist with the department's new suicide prevention program Hope Squad, currently operating at the Arkansas City Middle School, Arkansas City High School, and Cowley College.

     ACPD is also working closely with Suicide Prevention of Cowley County, an organization that was formed in 2021. The board of this group is comprised of Professionals within Cowley County that work at such organizations as ACPD, Four County Mental Health, WISH – a support group for mothers who have experienced loss through suicide,  South Central Kansas Health, the City Cowley County Health Department and many more. These individuals work to bring suicide awareness to the community, and to bring programs to the community to help raise awareness and prevent future loss to our community.