The Woodstock Police Service has created a new role within its police force to help address a growing number of mental health and crisis-related service calls.
To assist with these needs, the police force has created a position of a Community Engagement Officer. Woodstock police officials say the role will fall with in its Community Response Unit.
“The Community Engagement Officer is responsible for providing primary assistance and responding when required to calls for service involving those in crisis or suffering from mental illness,” read a release from WPS.
Additionally, the officer will work closely with the Mental Health Engagement and Response Team (MHEART), along with other community partners, they will also participate in the Oxford County Situation Table. They Community Engagement Officer will be help deliver crisis intervention training to other Woodstock police members and provide support and outreach to those in crisis situations within the community.
“The Woodstock Police Service is excited to introduce Constable Savage as the new Community Engagement Officer,” the statement continued. “Constable Savage came to the Woodstock Police Service as an experienced officer in August of 2021, with extensive experience in a similar role working with people in crisis and with mental illnesses at the Brantford Police Service.”
