St. Mary’s County Deputies Handled 76 Mental Health Calls in April, Nearly Half Prompted Emergency Petitions

Context

As Mental Health Awareness Month unfolds, local law enforcement is spotlighting how often officers encounter behavioral health crises. The Sheriff’s Office shared the April figures via a social media post, noting that the volume reflects real‑time demand for trained responses in the community.

Key Facts

Deputies responded to 76 mental‑health‑related calls in April. Of those, 47 resulted in emergency petitions that directed individuals to medical professionals for evaluation. The Sheriff’s Office described its CIT training as focusing on communication, de‑escalation techniques, and collaboration with health‑care providers to treat people with dignity and guide them to help.

What It Means

Research on crisis‑intervention approaches includes randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and meta‑analyses. A 2020 meta‑analysis of CIT programs (sample size ≈5,000 officers across multiple jurisdictions) found that such training is associated with reduced use of force and increased referrals to mental‑health services, though the evidence shows correlation rather than proven causation for any single outcome. For residents, the takeaway is that when a mental‑health call occurs, CIT‑trained deputies aim to de‑escalate the situation and link the person to appropriate care rather than relying solely on enforcement.

Looking ahead, officials will monitor whether expanded CIT training and partnership with local providers change the proportion of calls that result in emergency petitions over the coming months.