Sheriff Marshak on mental health crisis response

(Hillsboro) The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is looking at different ways to respond to mental health crisis situations. Sheriff Dave Marshak says it’s very difficult to balance the calls when a subject is having issues due to not taking medications or having a mental breakdown….but is not committing a crime.

Sheriff Marshak says while they do have mental health professionals on staff, the agency needs to keep them away from potentially dangerous situations.

Sheriff Marshak says the Sheriff’s Office will likely not respond to those types of calls in the future due to the potential for a situation turning deadly, and the likely litigation that could follow if there is an injury as a result. Sheriff Marshak recently met with several fire chiefs from across the county to share his thoughts on this exact subject.