Social Worker Will Assist Dearborn Police For Mental Health Calls

DEARBORN, MI — A behavioral health specialist will begin assisting Dearborn Police officers in situations involving mental and behavioral health crises, city officials announced.

Stacy Wetters, a clinical social worker and behavioral health specialist, has started teaching officers the appropriate mental health crisis response and resources.

"In mental health or substance use emergencies, I can help de-escalate and offer clinical expertise and interventions that an officer may not be trained in," Wetters said. "I am also trained as a clinical therapist, so I can talk with people who sometimes are more open to interacting with someone not in uniform."

The new addition to the department is funded through a grant from the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS), officials said.

Officials said Dearborn Police have seen an escalation in mental health calls, including a 62 percent increase from 2020 to 2022.

Welfare check calls also increased from 910 in 2020, to 1139 in 2021 and 1135 in 2022, officials said.

With the number of mental health calls growing, officials said data shows that behavioral health responders can help support officer safety, less use of force, fewer injuries to the community, fewer arrests and more referrals to services for those in need.

"With an overwhelming increase in mental health calls, there is a great need for this program in our city," Dearborn Police Chief Issa Shahin said. "Our co-responder will be able to provide not only an immediate response to such calls, but also the wraparound services and follow-up care needed by those experiencing mental health or substance use issues."