Educating the public on their work is an important aspect for any police department, and Sparta-White County Chamber of Commerce has helped Sparta Police Department do just that.
On June 11, a lunch event was held at the Chamber. While members had lunch and conversed, the SPD gave a presentation on all the new ways they are trying to promote safety in the city.
Police Chief Nick Dunn and Assistant Chief Brent Copeland presented together, and there were nearly half a dozen programs and initiatives shown. One of the first was the Child Passenger Safety technicians with the SPD, an initiative to help provide safety for children in automobiles with proper seating.
One of the big focuses of the presentation was mental health, both residents and fellow officers. The Crisis Intervention Team is comprised of officers that can help deescalate and talk to individuals who are suffering from a mental health crisis. Five of the officers with the SPD are certified in this program.
“If you all ever have mental health issues, you or a family member, give us a call,” said Assistant Chief Copeland. “That’s what we’re there for with these certifications.”
In addition to mental care for civilians, there is also an SPD peer support team meant to assist colleagues. Officers see more crisis situations than the average person, and that sort of exposure can be traumatic and weigh on an officer. SPD has two officers trained for this, and Copeland hopes he is always there to talk to the officers.
“That’s what my goal is,” he said. “To make sure our guys have somebody to go to. They may just need somebody to talk with.”
The department also discussed their drug take-back box. This is a little blue drop off in front of the office that can allow visitors to drop off various medications or drugs they no longer need, as disposal of certain types can be tricky. Prescriptions, liquid medications, ointments, pills, and pet medications are what the box is meant for. Needles and sharps, thermometers, IV bags, and personal care products are generally not meant for the drop off. However, Chief Dunn did say they have a box for needles that visitors can ask about, but it is a separate thing at the office. The two also joked that while the box is not meant for illegal substances, the office is happy to have someone turn those in; there will just be a few questions for whoever brings it by.
One of the most important aspects for the SPD, however, is building a strong relationship with the community. A good example is the Shop with a Cop event every Christmas, which helps kids see that police are not so scary. There is also the meet and greet during the Liberty Square Celebration, where they show off some of their gear and equipment.
After the presentation, members of the Chamber were allowed to ask any questions, and one of the biggest ones was: how can the community help?
Chief Dunn was careful to answer because helping the department is always a very tricky thing. The SPD cannot solicit aid from the community themselves, but the community can offer to donate or help at certain events.
“It’s not that we don’t want the community’s help,” Chief Dunn said. “We can use it, but we have to be selective with how we use that because we want to keep you guys safe first and foremost. There are some things we have to ask permission for, and there are some things that, for your safety, we just can’t do.”
The Chamber was proud to have the SPD give the informative presentation, and the officers were happy to share some of their progress and initiatives with the community. The Chamber’s next event is their “The Morning Brew” member event at the Farmers’ Storehouse on June 18.
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