COAST program making a difference

by Chris Jackman

The Windsor Police Service is making a big difference in the community with mental health-related situations, according to the police chief.

According to Windsor Police’s 2013 Use of Force Report, released Feb. 21 by Cst. Larry Hartley, the positive impact the new Community Outreach and Support Team program is making a difference already.

“The number of incidents involving Emotionally Disturbed Persons for 2012 doubled over the reports received in 2011,” the report reads. “However in 2013, we experienced a slight decrease in the total number of reports.…The COAST may have contributed to the decrease in incidents in 2013.”

Windsor police spokesperson Sgt. Matthew D’Asti described the program as “a partnership between healthcare professionals and the police.”

The program is made up of groups of two officers, each assigned to a nurse from Windsor Regional Hospital Ouellette Campus.

“We’ve already reduced our calls for service in regards to mental health dramatically because we have this COAST program that’s following up, sustaining our medical health presence with that person’s life,” said Windsor police Chief Al Frederick. “So whether it’s medications, getting programming, setting them up with different support mechanisms in the community, it’s all happening because of COAST.”

D’Asti said the program is an opportunity to help the people who may otherwise be overlooked.

“It’s like a middle ground for both agencies to provide support for those in need,” he said.

According to Frederick, COAST is not a first-response team, but a solution for long-term problems. He estimated officers responded to about four or five mental health-related calls a day.

“For crisis type of calls, it’s our frontline officers that attend,” he said. “And then they may refer the call or the person or the family to our COAST people who are more like a follow-up.”

According to Hartley’s report, “The Training Branch will continue to monitor all Use of Force reports than involve specifically Emotionally Disturbed Persons.” Frederick said he is optimistic about the impact COAST will continue to have.

“It’s extremely effective,” he said. “It’s just incredible the difference that they’ve made already.”