MUSKEGON COUNTY, Mich. — Three Muskegon County police departments are making big changes.
Muskegon, Muskegon Heights and Norton Shores police departments now have HealthWest mental health clinicians embedded into their staff.
The hires were made with grant funding, allowing a co-response to calls involving mental health issues. Police believe it will make for safer interactions with police and the community.
“The Muskegon Police Department values our embedded social worker program because it bridges compassion and public safety, forging a path toward a more holistic and community-centered approach to law enforcement," said Muskegon Police Chief Tim Kozal. "Through this partnership, we strive to build trust and pave the way for a safer and stronger community.”
Officials say Michelle Pouch is now working with Muskegon Police, Angela Smith with Muskegon Heights and Kerry Fretty with Norton Shores.
"The Norton Shores Police Department values the partnership with Healthwest and the embedded mental health clinician," said Norton Shores Police Chief Marc Vanderstelt. "The program provides our citizens timely intervention when in crisis to identify their needs and establish continuity of care."
The county recently implemented the Crisis Intervention Team training program, which helps officers work on the tools needed to assist in a mental health crisis.
"The addition of Angela Smith to the Muskegon Heights Police Department as our clinician and the collaboration with HealthWest has allowed us to provide services to our citizens like the Crisis Intervention Team and the implementation of mental health referrals," said Muskegon Heights Poice Chief Maurice A. Sain. "These efforts have also provided a new and refreshing way to educate and train law enforcement officers with proper training when interacting with someone suffering from a mental health crisis. I am extremely excited to see how much more this collaboration will positively impact the services we provide to citizens of Muskegon Heights and finally understand that sometimes arresting individuals may not be the best solution to the problem."
The three agencies all experienced an increase in referrals to their Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion program (LEAD) in 2023. LEAD helps people accused of minor, nonviolent crimes with resources and community programs, rather than face jail time.
Police authorities believe the additions will make a healthier community, give residents a chance to be free of the burden of a criminal record and help them depend less on the criminal justice system as a whole.
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