Enhanced Law Enforcement Training/Continuation of Mental Health & Wellness Program

The York County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) has identified a need for mental health counseling services for deputies.  On a daily basis, YCSO deputies are exposed to traumatic events such as child fatalities, severe assaults, child pornography, and fatal motor vehicle collisions.  Exposure to incidents such as these can have a severe negative impact on a deputy’s mental health.  Recognizing the need to provide resources so that deputies can care for their mental health, the YCSO established a mental health wellness program with funds from the FY 2021 Byrne JAG Program.  This program has been successful and grant funds are requested to be able to continue the program.  Grant funds will be used to pay licensed mental health practitioners to provide counseling services to deputies.  Grant funds will also be used to provide training on a variety of mental health topics (e.g., resiliency, suicide prevention, mindfulness, coping mechanisms, etc.) to deputies and their families.  The YCSO has been successful in using its mental health wellness program as a recruitment tool to attract diverse, professional and accountable law enforcement officers.

Funds from the FY ’23-’24 Byrne JAG program will also be used to provide enhanced law enforcement training opportunities for YCSO deputies.  Specifically, funds will be used to host an emergency vehicle operations training where deputies are able to participate in a real-life exercise to practice the skills necessary to engage in emergency vehicle operations.  Additionally, funds will be used to host a large-scale multi-agency mass casualty training.