St. Thomas Police on Wednesday evening brought a high-risk situation atop the bridge in Athletic Park to a successful outcome.
While police have released few details related to the incident, it did require deployment of the Critical Incident Response Team, crisis negotiators and front-line officers.
A police statement noted, “The outcome of last night’s call underscores the pressures police services face in responding to individuals in health crisis — situations that are often unpredictable, emotionally charged and present significant safety risks to the individual, the public and responding officers.
“We ensure that our members are highly trained professionals who rely on skill, patience, compassion and teamwork when responding to complex and unpredictable situations. The full integration of the Canadian Mental Health Association – Mobile Outreach Support Team within our police service assists our teams in a collaborative response strategy to crisis everyday.”
The statement concluded, “Chief Marc Roskamp has been clear in his advocacy for addressing mental health crises in the community and is proud of the work by frontline police personnel. While the STPS will always respond to protect life and provide safety, there is an ongoing need for increased collaborative resources, ensuring that individuals in crisis receive the specialized care and support they need from the most appropriate professionals.”
St. George Street was closed to traffic during the incident.
