The Gainesville Police Department will recruit a new position as a psychologist after councilors described the program as a successful start over the past year and a half.
In December 2019, the North Georgia Community Foundation awarded the department a $ 55,000 grant to hire a psychologist who would provide a more specialized response for those dealing with a mental crisis. That grant money is about to expire, said Jay Parrish, Gainesville police chief, adding a new job by next year.
Parrish presented the grant proposal to Gainesville City Council on Thursday, October 28, and the council is expected to approve the funding at its meeting on Tuesday, November 2.
The department was originally expected to receive funding from the Medical Center Open Golf Tournament, but the event, scheduled for October 7, has been canceled due to the high COVID-19 case numbers in the area. The co-responder program will remain the beneficiary of the golf tournament for next year, and Parrish said the program could fund the program for the next three years.
“I think this program has been a great success for our city,” said Mayor Danny Dunagan.
Councilor Sam Couvillon agreed, adding that the program could also provide internship opportunities for college students in the area. The department secured grants to hire a paid intern in March to work with inmates in partnership with the Hall County Jail.
Councilor Juli Clay said the program could be a police model at the local and national levels.
The post Gainesville Police Department plans to add additional psychologists first appeared on Daily Florida Press.from Daily Florida Press https://dailyfloridapress.com/gainesville-police-department-plans-to-add-additional-psychologists/
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