10:36 AM Dale County Sheriff Administers Oath To Several Law Enforcement Officers

Rickey Stokes

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Posted by: RStokes
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Date: Oct 30 2024 10:45 AM

DALE COUNTY:    This morning in the 3rd floor courtroom of the Dale County Courthouse, Dale County Sheriff Mason Bynum administered the Oath of Office to 16 law enforcement officers.

The Oath of Office was as a Mental Health Officer. These officers were from municipal agencies all across Dale County.

On hand to watch their officers take the oath: Newton Police Chief Frankie Peterman, who was also sworn in, and Daleville Department of Public Safety Director - Police Chief John Crawford.

These mental health law enforcement officers have undergone training to enable them to make the decision if someone needs to be committed to the hospital for evaluation for a mental breakdown or issue. This is important because traditionally it was just the Probate Judge who could make that determination.

With the increase in mental health issues, law enforcement has been left with one alternative, and that was place the person in the jail. Well, that does not attempt to work towards a resolution of the person's issues. With these additional officers as mental health officers, it will allow 24/7/365 law enforcement officers being available to make an assessment and place this person in the hospital to be seen by a doctor rather than place them in jail.

Several Dale County Sheriff Deputies were already Mental Health Law Enforcement Officers. With the willing participation from other municipal law enforcement officers and agencies from around Dale County, it makes sure someone is always available within Dale County to respond.

These duties now passed to law enforcement officers comes with no additional pay to the officers. But these officers are dedicated in their service for resolutions to problems. And jail is often times not the resolution to the problem.

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