The Support & Outreach Unit provides resources and follow up guidance in a wide variety of services including following up with domestic violence incidents, elder affairs, juvenile and mental health calls to see if further services can be provided. The unit works closely with investigating officers to offer support and resources and advice on the incident. Members act as liaisons to all departments, committees, and boards concerning vulnerable populations. The sex offender registry officer is included in this unit as well as the disabilities commission officer – both monitor incidents and offer support. Lastly, the outreach arm of this unit will provide services to the community — offer resources, classes, and overall information in the respective topics and provide the community a contact with special occasions – hospital escorts, birthday party drive-bys, etc.
The Randolph Police Department, partnering with Aspire Health Alliance, has an in house mental health clinician. This clinician co-responds to mental health crisis calls to divert clients from the Criminal Justice system to resources that help with the underlying cause of the crisis, i.e. the Hospital or counseling services. Support Unit members include specifically trained officers in Crisis Intervention (CIT) and Mental Health First Aid (MHFA). All new officers and dispatchers will be training in MHFA and CIT.
The Randolph Police Department completed the One Mind Campaign in January of 2023. We have trained 100% of our officers in Mental Health First and over 60% in Crisis Intervention. The One Mind Campaign seeks to ensure successful interactions between law enforcement and individuals with mental health conditions – run by the International Association of Chiefs of Police. The Department continued training Dispatch staff in CIT and MHFA as they are the “first on scene” during a crisis. This department places its highest value on the life and safety of the community and its officers. Creating positive interactions with our officers is of the utmost importance to us. Our officers who are specifically trained (in mental health awareness and CIT) and our clinician triage scenes to give out mental health resources and follow up with families to make sure that all needs are met. Our goal is to divert persons suffering from mental health crisis away from court and into services.