Behavioral Health Unit

Program Details

The Westbrook Police Department employs a Behavioral Health Unit (BHU) comprised of two clinicians who are embedded within the police department and have specialized training in mental health and substance use issues.  The role of our BHU is to co-respond to mental health and substance use calls with police officers, or when appropriate, respond in place of officers.  The BHU is able to work with citizens experiencing a mental health and/or substance use crisis to connect them to the necessary support and services and to advocate for them to receive the proper treatment.  The BHU is able to help officers in de-escalating scenes, assessing the level of care needed, and assessing for protective custody.  The BHU also assists in training our public safety team on responding to mental health and substance use calls, to include providing Crisis Intervention Training to all officers.

In addition to responding to calls, our BHU is able to work with individuals struggling with a substance use disorder through our highly successful Westbrook Recovery Liaison Program.  The BHU will work to connect individuals with services to help them in their efforts to recover.  These services include in and outpatient treatment, medical services, housing, employment, food, and basic household needs.  Our program has helped hundreds of individuals break the cycle of substance use and have helped to get them on the road to sobriety.  Westbrook PD utilizes funds from the National Opioid Settlement to help get people the treatment and services they need.

Our Mental Health Liaison is Jo Freedman, and our Recovery Liaison is Melissa Esty.