BLUEFIELD, W.Va. -Law enforcement can be a difficult job, that is both physically and mentally taxing. That’s why the City of Bluefield’s Police Department is utilizing a $186,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to help address the mental health struggles of their officers.
Bluefield’s Police Chief, Dennis Dillow says the funds will allow a social worker to work out of the department for a two year span. Something the chief says is all new to them.
“It’s uncharted territory for a police department. Probably very few in the country have social workers that work out of their police department. For us it’s a major unknown step that we’re willing to take to see where it goes,” said Dillow.
Dillow says having a social worker on site for his officers will make it much more convenient for those who protect and serve to get help when they need it. He says it also takes the pressure off of law enforcement’s shoulders when it comes to asking for help.
“It’s one of those things where you feel vulnerable. This way I think they won’t and maybe it will help their mental health,” said Dillow.
Dillow says the department also received a second grant that will allow the social worker to help children who have been effected by traumatic experiences. Dillow says he believes the department is the only agency in the state to be awarded these grants from the department of justice.
“Say we went to a severe call and there was youth there and they were involved in something or they maybe saw something tragic. We would be able to use her as well to be able to get those children the correct and necessary treatment they needed,” said Dillow.
The chief says his department has been looking at different ways to address mental health for the last five years. He says to see it finally come to fruition is a win-win for everybody.
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