Launched in January of 2020, the St. Thomas Police Service Mobile Outreach Support Team assists those struggling with mental health-related issues.
The police service itself is now benefitting in a roundabout way as Brianne Graham, a CMHA response worker who joined the support team in the spring of 2020, is now transitioning over to becoming a police cadet.
Graham explains this has been her long-term goal.
The experience with the support team has given her the confidence to now undertake one more adjustment to her career game plan.
The mental health and addictions skills obtained through the support team are something Graham says would not have been prevalent on police services 20 years ago.
Graham says her winding career path over a ten-year span has been critical in her becoming a well-rounded individual.
The Central Elgin Collegiate Institute grad says it was important to get as many skill sets as possible before making it known she wanted to become a police cadet.
And, it was in high school where a police officer presentation ignited a spark in Graham.
For a young person considering a career in policing, Graham simply advises them to do what she has done over the past decade.
Set yourself apart from others. Graham’s carefully chosen career strategy is the embodiment of where that can take you.
