By Robert Hubner, Director, Woodbridge Police Department
Earlier this year, I wrote about the challenges that Woodbridge Police Officers face when dealing with mental health related calls for service. In that article, I explained that Woodbridge Township created a program whereby officers when dealing with an individual with a mental health issue can contact Rutgers Mental Health. The officer(s) on scene can speak with a mental health counselor who assess the situation. In some instances, the counselor will speak to the person or a counselor may be sent to the scene. Officers can only transport a person involuntarily to a hospital if they are a danger to themselves or others. A counselor can also determine if a person should be transported to a hospital, but the officer can only take that action if the counselor forwards a written commitment.
In many cases, WPD officers have been able to convince individuals that they should go to the hospital to speak with a mental health professional. In all instances, the WPD will forward the information for a follow up, much like our addiction recovery program. All follow-up information is given to the Specialized Case Management and Outreach Services (SCMOS), which is an outreach service that is geared towards successful connections to mental health and other support services. The Woodbridge Township Mental Health Coordinator is also notified to ensure a follow-up by the Township is made to help individuals find a program or services. Unfortunately, many refuse assistance.
Recently, the WPD was selected to participate with Edison, New Brunswick and Highland Park Police Department’s in a program funded by the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office called ARRIVE Together. The program has mental health experts on certain days of the week riding with police officers who have been trained in the Critical Intervention Training program. The ARRIVE program will begin May 1, 2023. Mental health experts will alternate between the four towns each week and will be scheduled during the time of day that data has shown the department receiving the most calls for mental health incidents.
Woodbridge Township has seen a 44% increase in mental health related calls between 2018 and 2022. Last year, the WPD responded to 734 calls where an individual was experiencing a mental health crisis. The ARRIVE program will aid the WPD with dealing with this growing problem.
