Summit County Sheriff’s Office SMART team and Community Partners making a difference
Case Manager Scott Bradley was making a routine follow up. He sent a text message to a client of the Summit County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) Co-Responder Unit, known as SMART—System Wide Mental Assessment Response Team, and what followed is a small success story of partnership between Law Enforcement and community stakeholders.
Scott and fellow Case Manager Yirka Platt are what make the SCSO SMART team unique in an ever growing realm of Co-Responder units within Public Safety organizations. Whereas others respond to and assist in solving immediate crises related to mental health issues, Summit County Sheriff’s Office employs Scott and Yirka to manage cases and maintain ongoing communication with clients over the long term, either those referred by a third party, or those who have been the subject of a call to the 911 Center. Their primary job is assisting clients in overcoming what can be serious bureaucratic hurdles in seeking public assistance, and most important, treatment for their mental health issues.
It’s become a community wide partnership involving not only other Police agencies in Summit County, who refer potential clients, but churches, local retailers, and professional services providers as well.
Scott’s simple text message, “How are you doing?” to a Summit County resident with a long history of criminal behavior related to his homelessness was the first step in the path to what may have been life-saving measures for a man mostly living outdoors in the often brutal cold of a mountain winter. It was accomplished with the help of community partners who responded “yes” without question when asked to assist.
The reply to Scott’s text message was that the client was ok, but in need of some new pants, some winter boots, and God bless him for asking. Scott’s first consideration in this situation is always funding. “Who will help us with this?” His first call went to long-time SMART partner, Dillon Community Church, who immediately volunteered to assist with funding for the requested items, as they have on several previous occasions. They did not ask questions regarding why this man was a client or questions regarding his criminal history. They immediately assisted a county resident in need. Funding secured, he went about finding the needed items. Two pairs of sweat pants for layering as requested by the client, and the boots.
One would think that in the middle of winter, a pair of men’s winter boots in size 9 would be any easy purchase. Not so in this case as the month of March is rapidly approaching and larger retailers have turned their attention to spring sales. Mildly perplexed but undaunted, Scott walked through the door at the Columbia Store in the Silverthorne Outlets, introduced himself, and explained the situation. Not only did they have a pair of boots in the correct size, they were happy to give him a significant discount based on his available funds. Now set, he headed back to the SMART office at the Summit County Justice Center.
Scott’s next text message to his client reported that he had the needed boots and sweat pants, and could the client come to the Justice Center to pick them up? He also offered a nearly new and high quality winter coat and hat donated by other community members. These were refused. They were not needed right now and should be kept for someone else. The client gratefully accepted the items he requested and offered a “God Bless you all.” After some conversation and a request to keep in touch, also gratefully accepted, he was on his way, new winter boots and sweat pants all in the bag from the Columbia store.
In a nation demanding police reform, at times vehemently, Summit County Sheriff’s Office has taken significant steps forward in a community based response which partners the unique abilities of the Clinicians and Deputies of the SMART Co-Responder unit, Case Managers, faith based organizations, retailers, and professional services in a holistic approach to those in the community struggling with mental health issues. Recognizing that what is really needed is “response reform” when calls for assistance or intervention are determined to be mental health issues, and only tangentially criminally related, this rapidly expanding community partner based approach is getting appropriate assistance to those in need and keeping them out of the already overloaded criminal justice system.
The Summit County Sheriff’s Office and municipal Police agencies within the county are doing what they’ve always done and will continue to do—protect and serve the citizens of the county. Now, a new way forward in partnership with the community is making a difference, and perhaps saving lives, one pair of boots at a time.