The BDN Opinion section operates independently and does not set news policies or contribute to reporting or editing articles elsewhere in the newspaper or on bangordailynews.com
Maddie Buzza earned a bachelor’s degree in social work with two minors in criminal justice and psychology from the University of Maine at Presque Isle, and is now attending the University of Maine in the master of social work advanced standing program.
Individuals who display signs of mental illness are over seven times more likely to be killed in police shootings compared to others who do not exhibit these observable symptoms. Law enforcement officers have had increasing interactions with individuals experiencing mental health crises. These officers typically do not receive adequate training to deal with these situations in an appropriate way that will avoid potentially hostile results.
LD 298, An Act to Employ Mental Health Personnel Within the Maine State Police was written to help combat this issue by integrating mental health professionals into the law enforcement system.
As an aspiring social worker who is very passionate about more collaborative efforts between mental health professionals and law enforcement officers, I believe that this is something worth advocating for to benefit citizens of Maine.
LD 298 is sponsored by Sen. Joseph Underwood, R-Presque Isle, and co-sponsored by three other Republican legislators. I believe these legislators understand the importance of mental health among Maine citizens and how law enforcement’s inadequate responses to these crisis situations are climbing. There are mental health crises that can be avoidable after law enforcement is called, but also before.
Robert Card, the man who claimed 18 lives in the Lewiston shooting in 2023, was held in a psychiatric hospital less than three months prior to this tragic event. Authorities ordered a wellness check be done at Card’s residence shortly after his release from the hospital. This check was not handled appropriately, according to a state investigative panel.
Due to the reported failure to fully follow appropriate procedures, Card was not properly observed to check his mental wellness. This reported negligence could have been a cause of 18 lives being taken at the hands of an individual experiencing poor mental health.
With better training surrounding mental health intervention, situations such as this could be prevented in the future. However, social workers and mental health professionals receive an all around better education that pertain to these issues. By integrating these clinicians into law enforcement departments, many lives could potentially be saved.
If this bill were to be passed, three behavioral health coordinator positions would be assigned at three different Maine State Police departments: Southern Field Troop (York, Oxford, Cumberland, and Androscoggin Counties); Central Field Troop (Kennebec, Somerset, and
Franklin Counties); and Troop F (Aroostook County). Those who fill this position will be responsible for making decisions surrounding the health, safety, and welfare of individuals in the community who interact with law enforcement and need additional services. Additionally, the bill creates a behavioral health coordinator supervisor position, which oversees all the other behavioral health coordinators, as well as regularly collaborate with on staff Maine State Police officers.
This bill was passed in both the House and the Senate but is currently waiting to be funded by the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee, which will finish its work in April. I encourage you to contact the legislators who represent your area and those who sit on this committee to let them know how important this bill is to Mainers. Advocating for something as important as this will bring out your inner social worker!
