NOPD Crisis
Transportation Service Looking for Volunteers to Serve as Mental Health
Technicians
NEW ORLEANS – The
NOPD’s Crisis Transportation Service is searching for volunteers to serve as
mental health technicians to assist in its mission to provide a more dignified
and humane method of care and transport for those persons encountered by the
NOPD who are mentally ill and/or emotionally disturbed.
A joint venture between the NOPD and Louisiana Department of
Health and Hospitals’ Division of Mental Health, the unit consists of highly
motivated and trained volunteers who respond at the request of NOPD District
officers when mental health calls are received. It also works to separate those
individuals from the criminal justice system and to seek treatment for their
illnesses in lieu of incarceration. By doing this, the service looks to improve
the quality of life for not only the patients but their families.
Watch Video: Inside the NOPD's Mobile Crisis Unit
“The Crisis Transportation Service has developed an
expertise and has proven to be successful in providing humane transportation to
the mentally ill,” said Sgt. Ben Glaudi, who heads the unit. “By diverting the
mentally ill from possible encounters with the criminal and/or juvenile justice
system, this unit helps to relieve the NOPD district officers and enabling them
to continue their maximum law enforcement capacity.”
The unit currently has between 15 and 20 volunteers, and
works shifts from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to midnight. However, additional
volunteers are needed to provide adequate staffing for all shifts.
“Ideally, we’d like to have about 50 volunteers to ensure
that all shifts per month are staffed,” said Glaudi.
Volunteers with the Crisis Transportation Service must be at
least 21 years of age, have a high school diploma or equivalent, pass a
standard drug screen and police background check, must possess a valid
Louisiana driver’s license and have a desire to become an elite member of the
community. In addition, volunteers are asked to purchase an official uniform
that includes pants, a white uniform shirt, collar insignias, black shoes and a
black belt from an authorized uniform supplier.
As part of the training, volunteers will attend classroom
training featuring mental health professionals covering various related topics
and complete six field training ride with a field trainer to grade skill and
aptitude. Volunteers are asked to work a minimum of two six-hour shifts per
month with an experienced crisis unit technician and attend in-service meetings
every three months for organizational information.
Many NOPD officers began their relationship with the
department by volunteering with the Crisis Transportation Service before
entering the Training Academy to become commissioned officers. This includes
current officers as well as command staff.
“I was a volunteer with the Crisis Transportation Service
from 1990 to 1991 until I joined the New Orleans Police Department,” said NOPD
Deputy Chief John Thomas. “The Crisis Transportation Service provided me the
opportunity to serve my community by providing humane transportation to those
in our society who suffer from mental illness. This was one of the most
rewarding experiences I ever had, knowing I was making a difference in not only
the patient life, but the life of family members who had to make the tuff
decision to call for assistance. This volunteer work allowed officers to return
to the streets and patrol the city while the Crisis Transportation Services
assisted with the commitment of mental patients, which can often be time
consuming. It is my opinion, as a result of the training I received and the
satisfaction of helping individuals in crisis is why I am who I am today.”
NOPD Fifth District Commander Frank Young began volunteering
with the service in 1991 as a technician while he was attending the University
of New Orleans.
“I had always had an interest in law enforcement, so
volunteering with NOPD was a great way for me to test the waters while
maintaining full-time status in college,” he said. “Upon graduating from UNO, I
applied to the New Orleans Police Department and never looked back. The Crisis Transportation Service not only
provided the department with a valuable service, it introduced me to a
fulfilling and satisfying career.”
For more information on volunteering with the NOPD’s Mobile Crisis
Unit transportation service, contact Sgt. Ben Glaudi at 504-952-1482 or email bglaudi2@nola.gov.
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