SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Now that we are in the summer months, the Sioux Falls Police Department says it’ll start to deploy more officers in the downtown area to deal with what it says is an “increase in disruptive behavior.”
Police will also partner with Southeastern Behavioral Health to use a program it started three years ago.
Now that school is out, resource officers will be assigned to help patrol the streets of downtown Sioux Falls.
“We’ve seen an increase in disruptive behavior downtown and this is part of the response; deploying those resource officers in that area to make sure we’re expanding coverage in the core of our city,” Sioux Falls Chief of Police Jon Thum said.
Thum also wants to remind people about the importance of donating to non-profits rather than giving to panhandlers.
“Sometimes that cash out the window more often than not goes directly into a liquor store, in that regard, we just have to make sure the money is going to places and resources that can help people,” Thum said.
Speaking of help, police will also partner with Southeastern Behavioral Health to have a mental health expert ride along with those resource officers when responding to certain calls.
This will be the fourth year for the program that they say has shown signs of success.
“It really calms them down, this person is not in a uniform, they’re not wearing a gun or a badge and bulletproof vest; they can really de-escalate that situation and work with the individual,” Lt. Jason Leach said.
Individuals who sometimes struggle with their mental health or some kind of addiction.
“The goal is really for them to step back and allow the mental health professional to do their work so we can help that person by getting them connected to resources, de-escalating whatever their crisis may be and hopefully getting them connected to other programming that can help them going forward so they’re not continuing to be in that crisis mode or experiencing those struggles,” Community Support Services director with Southeastern Behavioral Health Care Kim Hansen said.
Last year, police say they made contact with over 300 individuals using those co-respondent units to help people get the resources they need.
