Mercer County is located in southern West Virginia on the southeastern border of the state with a population of approximately 60,000 people.
The Mercer County Sheriff’s Department plans to continue its partnership with the Southern Highlands Community Mental Health Center, Sheriff’s Departments/Municipalities in surrounding counties, and the Thomas Jefferson Area CIT team by collaborating to provide CIT trainings for local police departments and to foster the development of a robust regional CIT training team. With grant funding, the agency intends to host two 40-hour trainings over a 2-year period in the local area for officers. This initiative aims to ensure that 80% of their officers receive this highly sought-after training opportunity. Upon completion of the 40-hour Crisis Intervention training, law enforcement officers will be equipped with the skills necessary to assist individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. Cohort 2023.
Program Goals
With funding from the grant, the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department plans to:
Key Partnership Organizations
Mercer County Sheriff’s Office | Southern Highlands Community Mental Health Center
Learn More
Mercer County Sheriff’s Office applying for crisis training funding (wvva.com)
“When you’re dealing with a family situation where you’ve got somebody coming in that may be going through that crisis. Well, you may have a mom or a youngster at home. They’re going through that same crisis situation as well. So being able to understand that generational family component of that external individual themselves is also very important for the law enforcement to know about.”
Greg Puckett
Mercer County Commissioner