BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – Two U.S. Department of Justice grants totaling more than $350,000 have been awarded to the Bluefield Police Dept. to help address mental health wellness with officers as well as with youth in the community.
A Law Enforcement Mental Health & Wellness Act grant of $175,000 will provide training, programming and support services focusing on officers’ emotional and mental health in Mercer and adjacent counties. Bluefield is the only recipient in West Virginia with a total of 61 grants awarded around the country.
The other grant is the Community Policing Development Microgrant for $186,339 and will be distributed over a period of two years.
This will allow Bluefield Police to utilize law enforcement officers to share mental health and wellness education and intervention with youth in Mercer and adjacent counties.
The City of Bluefield posted that these two grants affirm the Bluefield Police Department’s commitment to community oriented policing and creative strategies to engage and strengthen the community.
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