Village Of Mamaroneck PD Awarded $80K For Mental Health Resources

MAMARONECK, NY — Those in law enforcement come face to face with the kind of situations and stresses most of us can only imagine. Local police will be getting new help bearing that burden.

The Village of Mamaroneck Police Department received an $80,000 grant from the NYS Office of Mental Health CARES UP Program. The grant, which will be paid over two years, will fund the development of mental health resources and programming, along with technical assistance for police officers and their families.

As part of his 2020 State of the State address, former Governor Andrew Cuomo directed the NYS Office of Mental Health to increase the efforts to combat suicide among veterans, the military, law enforcement, firefighters, EMS workers and correction officers.

“We are grateful to be receiving this funding, which will enable the department to further implement officer safety and wellness initiatives. We recognize the importance of providing support to officers and their families to survive the mental and physical demands of this profession,” said Sandra DiRuzza, Chief of the Village of Mamaroneck Police Department.

This is the first time that the program has been rolled out and Village of Mamaroneck PD is just one of three law enforcement agencies in the entire state to receive this grant.

CARES UP helps uniformed personnel, including police and other law enforcement, firefighters, emergency medical service members, corrections officers, and military veterans learn to manage stress in healthy ways and seek help when they need it. CARES UP knows there are cultural and organizational barriers that prevent help seeking. CARES UP also knows uniformed personnel have key strengths that keep them safe. The program builds on this resiliency, bravery, teamwork, and connection. More information can be found on their website.