TITLE
Title
APPROVE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO APPLY FOR THE SAFER OUTCOMES: ENHANCING DE-ESCALATION AND CRISIS RESPONSE TRAINING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT - SUPPORT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES GRANT (SAFER OUTCOMES GRANT)
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SPONSOR
Sponsor
Sheriff Danny H. Rogers (Captain Wes Mecham)
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BACKGROUND
Background
Over the past several years, there has been a noticeable rise in the number of encounters between law enforcement officers and mentally ill persons or persons subject to impairing substances. These encounters have resulted in injury to both the officers and those they encounter. The Guilford County Sheriff's Office has not been spared this increase in these encounters. The reason for the rise in these numbers is not known. The Sheriff's Office seeks to end each encounter in a non-physical and non-injurious manner, whenever possible. If a situation can be de-escalated by verbal (non-physical) means, it is better for everyone. Sheriff Rogers has continually championed this type of resolution, and to enhance chances of peaceful outcomes, he has required deputies and detention officers to attend training opportunities, to increase their verbal de-escalation skills.
The Safer Outcomes Grant is provided by the U.S. Department of Justice: Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. The Safer Outcomes Grant provides funding for law enforcement officers to attend training(s) to improve their de-escalation skills. It also provides opportunities for officers to be trained as a trainer, so they can return to their agency and continue the training in house. The train-the-trainer program allows the skills to be taught and developed going forward, as a perpetual training resource. An awarded agency can be granted up to $350,000. This grant does not require any matching local funds. Also, this grant does not create a program, which will require continuation and/or funding for years to come.
The USDOJ will award these funds to twenty (20) law enforcement agencies. The notification to awardees will be announced in September 2024, with the funds available October 01, 2024. The awarded agencies will have two years (24 months) in which to utilize the funds. The application deadline for this grant is July 23, 2024.
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BUDGET IMPACT
Budget Impact
NO ADDITIONAL COUNTY FUNDS REQUIRED
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REQUESTED ACTION
Requested Action
Approve the Sheriff's Office to apply for The Safer Outcomes: Enhancing De-Escalation and Crisis Response Training for Law Enforcement - Support for Law Enforcement Agencies grant.
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