BELCHERTOWN — The Belchertown Police Department received a $18,250 grant from the state Department of Mental Health this month to pay for training on how to identify, respond to and help individuals with behavioral health challenges.
“The training provided through this funding will assist officers in better understanding behavioral health issues, providing intervention strategies, and identifying resources available to those people who might otherwise be channeled through the criminal justice system,” Belchertown police chief Christopher Pronovost said in a statement.
The grant will fund training provided by the Behavioral Health Network in Springfield on how to respond to citizens with behavioral health challenges, de-escalate crisis situations and avoid violent confrontations. The Crisis Intervention Training will begin in late April and continue through June.
The award is part of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services’ Jail/Arrest Diversion Program.
Sarah Robertson can be reached at srobertson@gazettenet.com.
