Tuscaloosa Sheriff's deputies received training on how to recognize signs of mental illness when they interact with the public. Source: WBRC videoTUSCALOOSA COUNTY, AL (WBRC) -
Law enforcement officers in west Alabama are learning how best to handle people who may be mentally disturbed.
Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's deputies wrapped up three days of training Thursday. Sheriff Ted Sexton says that many of his deputies come into contact with citizens who are mentally ill. He says many of those folks have left state-run mental health facilities, transferred into group homes and eventually wind up on the street.
Sexton hopes the training will make it easier for law enforcement to identify and serve those who are mentally ill.
"Given the number of mental health issues we deal with on a daily basis - and our jail population has bees as high as 40 percent - it's something we deal with on the street and we deal with in the jail. So that's why these deputies need to know this type of training exists," Sexton said.
The training session was made possible by a grant from the Justice Department.
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