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Crisis therapist now embedded with local police Ashland, Talent and Phoenix police departments are sharing in a new mental health liason for people in crisis. Daily Tidings file photo Wednesday Oct 5, 2016 at 8:10 PM Oct 5, 2016 at 8:10 PM Vickie Aldous for the Tidings @VickieAldous As a sign of ever-increasing cooperation between local police and mental health workers, a Jackson County crisis therapist is now embedded with police departments in Ashland, Phoenix and Talent. Police can tap Taji Allen's expertise as they deal with situations that range from steering someone toward mental health services to responding to a person on the brink of suicide or coaxing someone barricaded inside a house to come out. "We just feel very fortunate and excited to bring a new service to the Ashland community," said Ashland police Deputy Chief Warren Hensman. Allen, who already was working for Jackson County Mental Health, became an embedded crisis therapist with the police departments in June. She currently is using office space provided by Asante Ashland Community Hospital, but the Ashland Police Department hopes to arrange space for her to eventually work from within the department. Grant funding from the Oregon Health Authority paved the way for the partnership between law enforcement and Jackson County Mental Health. If the cooperation proves successful, the grant support could continue for up to seven years, said Jackson County Mental Health Crisis Services Manager Anna D'Amato. Police jumped at the chance to have an embedded mental health worker, she said. "Not one law enforcement agency said, 'Why would we do that?' All said, 'This is great!' It shows how far we've come," D'Amato said. Four years ago, local law enforcement agencies began receiving additional training to help them deal with people experiencing mental illness. They don headphones and listen to menacing voices to understand how disturbing and distracting auditory hallucinations can be for people suffering from schizophrenia. Other training includes how to de-escalate mental health crises in the field, ask people about their symptoms or past mental health diagnoses and get them help. Embedding Allen with the three police departments is part of Jackson County Mental Health's growing efforts to provide mobile crisis team members to help law enforcement, D'Amato said. Encounters between police and people with mental illness can be dangerous, and it sometimes turns deadly. Andrew Charles Shipley, 49, barricaded himself inside his Medford house for 19 hours in 2015, then unexpectedly opened his garage door and fired at police, neighbors and reporters who had gathered outside. Several officers returned fire and Shipley was killed. In some situations, officers can save the lives of people in crisis. Jackson County sheriff's Deputy Ben Weaver likely saved the life of a suicidal man who was stabbing himself in 2015 in Gold Hill. Weaver was able to keep his patrol vehicle between himself and the man and negotiate with him. When the man started stabbing himself again, Weaver shot him with a nonlethal beanbag round in the leg, causing him to drop the knife. After being honored by Jackson County officials, Weaver — a recent hire out of the Ashland Police Department at the time — said law enforcement personnel try to de-escalate potentially violent or deadly situations when they can. With Allen now embedded with Ashland, Talent and Phoenix police, Hensman said police are working out protocols to protect her. "We'll never put Taji in a situation that puts her safety at risk," he said. Police will accompany Allen if she is meeting someone unfamiliar, or she will find somewhere to meet that is safe, such as a public place. D'Amato said the Ashland library has welcomed Allen to use space there. The Ashland Police Department is already getting positive feedback from some people helped by both police and Allen. "We're able to get people the right resources," Allen said. "I remember a person who said, 'I'm glad the police are here, and I'm glad mental health is here.' The person felt covered." Hensman said police are learning to draw on Allen's expertise. She can help them decide whether to place a police hold on mentally ill people so they can be transported to the emergency room of Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center for evaluation and possible admission into the hospital's psychiatric unit, which serves the whole valley. "We had three police holds over the past weekend," Hensman said. "That's a lot for a town of Ashland's size, but it's not uncommon. We're concerned about their health, safety and well-being." Hensman noted mental illness can strike anyone. "Mental health issues do not have any one demographic," he said. D'Amato added, "Mental illness affects everyone. It doesn't discriminate." Allen was able to help a veteran with suicidal thoughts get Veteran Administration services, and she will also serve as a resource for Southern Oregon University's student services office and campus police. "The relationships among organizations in the Rogue Valley are deep and strong," Hensman said. "Agencies help each other. The partnerships are strong and long-lasting — and get better and better." With the partnership between Allen and the Ashland, Talent and Phoenix police departments still in its infancy, D'Amato said Medford police and the sheriff's department are both hoping for their own embedded mental health worker. MPD already has offered space at its new downtown station so its mental health worker can interact on a daily basis with officers. "I do get a call a week from the sheriff's office and the Medford Police Department asking, 'When can we start?' " D'Amato said. Reach staff reporter Vickie Aldous at 541-776-4486 or [email protected]. Follow her at www.twitter.com/VickieAldous.