Woodland police officers are getting some backup in the form of mental health services support. Beginning this week, Crisis Intervention Specialist Robert Villarreal joined officers in the field when they respond to mental health calls.
“Robert is an integral part of our team,” Woodland Police Chief Derrek Kaff said. “While our officers do get crisis intervention training, Robert’s experience and expertise gives us an invaluable tool to keep our community safe.”
A Crisis Intervention Specialist will help officers determine if a person needs medical help, counseling or access to services. Up to 25 percent of an officer’s day can be spent dealing with mental health issues. Having a specialist assist officers ultimately leads to better outcomes for the individual and for the community.
Villarreal brings more than 20 years of mental health work experience to the department. He worked with Woodland Police Department in 2015, but the program ended because of lack of funding. Thanks to the partnership with Yolo County Health and Human Services Agency, the program is back up and running.