Mental Health Deputy

Summary

Preserves the peace within Lubbock County by use of all lawful means and shall, when authorized by law, interfere to prevent and suppress crime. The Mental Health Deputy Program will help improve the crisis response system by diverting people in need of behavioral health crisis services from hospitals and jails to community-based alternatives that provide effective behavioral health treatment at less cost.

Mental Health Deputies are officers specially trained in crisis intervention through Texas Commission on Law Enforcement who work collaboratively with the community and crisis-response teams.

• Promote and maintain a safe and peaceful community.
• Preserve order.
• Protect life and property.
• Enforce laws and ordinances.
• Safeguard individual Liberties.
• Treat others with fairness, dignity, and respect.
• Carries out duties in conformance with Federal and State statutes while following the Policies and Procedures of Lubbock County and the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office.
• Responds to emergencies as a first responder.
• Attends required departmental meetings.
• Performs other duties as may be assigned by supervisory personnel.
• Takes calls for services and writes reports as needed.
• Prepares for and testifies in court.
• Serves criminal and mental health warrants.
• Assists other divisions of the Sheriff’s Office, as well as other law enforcement agencies.
• Assists at crime scenes.
• Patrols county area, ensuring citizen safety.
• Maintains contact with department supervisory personnel to coordinate activities.
• Works an assigned shift using discretionary judgment in the performance of sworn duties.
• Maintain a Mental Health Deputy Program that promotes collaboration between local law enforcement and mental health professionals to provide crisis intervention and crisis stabilization services to individuals in behavioral health emergencies. The Mental Health Deputy Program will: divert individuals from unnecessary arrests and bookings; divert individuals from unnecessary hospitalizations; provides timely crisis intervention and crisis stabilization services; and provides referrals and linkage to long-term community mental health services.
• Coordinate with the Patrol Division personnel to respond to requests for crisis intervention for individuals identified to be in a behavioral health emergency.
• Serve as a liaison between the Patrol Division and community stakeholders with an interest in behavioral health services.
• Ensure Mental Health Deputies transport individuals in behavioral health emergencies to the appropriate service location where the individual can receive crisis stabilization services. Service locations may include the following: community hospitals, contracted psychiatric beds, crisis respite units, crisis residential units, extended observation units, crisis stabilization units, and state hospital facilities.
• Ensure that when clinically appropriate, Mental Health Deputies collaborate with staff of the local mental health facilities to institute an emergency detention or seek a judge’s or magistrate’s order for emergency apprehension and detention under Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 573 (Emergency Detention).
• In accordance with Texas Health and Safety Code 574.023 (Apprehension Under Order) Mental Health Deputies, where determined appropriate, transport individuals requiring admission to an inpatient mental health facility.
• Maintain mandatory training standards prescribed by Texas Commission on Law Enforcement for Mental Health Peace Officers which may include: recognizing signs and symptoms of mental illness, substance use, and co-occurring mental illness, understanding cultural issues, Crisis Intervention, De-escalation, and information on community resources.
• Coordinate with Detention Re-entry staff to establish follow up procedures for individuals being released from custody and being made ready to reintroduce into the community.

Qualification Requirements:
High school diploma or GED and Peace Officer certification through TCOLE. Mental Health Peace Officer Certification within one year of selection.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Knowledge of the…