GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – The Green Bay Police Department receives calls dealing with mental health on a weekly basis and they had nearly 600 emergency medical commitments within the city, last year alone.
In the latest episode of Green Bay Crime Captain Todd LePine talks about the three biggest problems officers face when dealing with the mentally ill and policing.
One issue involves chronic people in the community who are in a constant state of mental health crisis.
“Whether it be induced by alcohol or drugs or what-have-you, but these people…I don’t want to say they’ve burned their bridges but they’ve really not responded to any treatment,” said LePine.
LePine says there’s a lack of capacity at adequate facilities in the area that will accept these individuals.
“We have only a few mental facilities in the area and when they reach a capacity, there’s nowhere to bring these people.”
LePine says the new Willow Creek Behavioral Health facility at 1351 Ontario Road is a game changer for their department.
See the full interview by clicking on the video above.
