David's Hope,' a statewide Mental Health and Criminal Justice Advocacy coalition (http://davidshopeaz.org/), is a nonprofit organization created in 2009 with the goal of reducing incarceration and promoting treatment for those with mental illness and addictions involved in the criminal justice system. Sheriff Mascher and 8 YCSO employees were recognized last week for efforts regarding the Sheriff's Office Mental Health Unit (MHU) at the Camp Verde Detention Center, and a barricaded suspect incident resolved through negotiation and use of mental health professionals in hopes of a long term resolution.
A ceremony honoring these individuals took place October 9th in Scottsdale.
Sheriff Mascher, who led the formation of the Yavapai County Mental Health Criminal Justice and Community Coalition, remains committed to innovative approaches in dealing with mental illness issues. Sheriff Mascher - "My goal with the Coalition is to involve critical stakeholders who can provide resources for those with mental illness needing treatment. The intent is to avoid criminalizing mental illness - incarceration in many cases should be a last resort."
Detention Sergeant Armando Santana was awarded the Crisis Response Officer of Distinction.
Basis for the award:
In 2014 at the direction of Yavapai County Sheriff Scott Mascher and Detention Services Captain David Rhodes, Sgt. Santana was asked to take a primary leadership role in the creation of the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office Jail Mental Health Unit. He accepted the challenge and went above and beyond what was asked. He displays great skill and compassion in working with those with mental illness. Within five months of the sheriff's office creating the specialized unit, under Sgt. Santana's leadership, 50 inmates who previously had to be isolated due to their illness, were able to be safely reintegrated and socialized. As these incarcerated individuals stabilize within the mental health unit, participants are given the opportunity to engage in ongoing mental health treatment and educational programs. Sgt. Santana continues to monitor and oversee these individuals for the duration of their stay, creating a safe and therapeutic environment, which is critical in preventing further mental deterioration due to lack of treatment.
The YCSO credits Sgt. Santana with making the mental health unit the success it is today. Jail Commander Captain David Rhodes referring to Sgt. Santana said, "His efforts have helped debunk myths and stigma surrounding mental illness and the way people must be treated for security reasons. This mental health unit was created by the sheriff's office with the leadership of Sgt. Santana all through a spirit of service and self-sacrifice." For this reason Sgt. Armando Santana is being recognized and honored for his efforts in changing the way that incarcerated persons with mental illness are treated by our criminal justice system.
Deputy John Vanderhoven was awarded the Crisis Officer of Distinction.
Basis for the award:
(Abridged)- On May 15, 2015 Yavapai Sheriff's deputies responded to a report in Prescott Valley of a female that shot a pistol inside a residence. Six officers initially arrived on the scene that evening, all of whom will be recognized tonight for their outstanding response to this distraught, suicidal and possibly substance impaired subject, a woman reportedly with a loaded gun.
The subject's significant other had reported to the sheriff's that he was shot at earlier in the evening prior to their arrival and he had left the residence and waited for the officers to show up from a distance down the street. Several neighboring residences were also evacuated for safety concerns. As the officers arrived and assessed the situation, Deputy John Vanderhoven made contact with the subject by telephone. The woman in obvious crisis, continued to scream and cry that she was going to kill herself but then would hang up the phone. Deputy Vanderhoven continued to call her and talk to her, each time she seems to become just a bit calmer and quieter before hanging up again. Many calls later Deputy Vanderhoven believed he was making progress and the woman began to cry and speak about her father. The officers had learned earlier from the subject's significant other, that her father had committed suicide.
SWAT was called out, a mental health professional was called out and another negotiator was called out with additional communication equipment in case it became impossible to use the cell phone. The subject however continued to respond with interest to Deputy Vanderhoven's promptings and each phone call was keeping the subject engaged longer and in meaningful conversation.
Deputy Vanderhoven calmly reassured her that he was there outside her home and that he would be there to meet her if she were to come out of the house without the weapon. Only after a long period of time during which he worked patiently to gain her trust, she eventually stayed on the phone, quit hanging up and finally said that she wanted to come outside to speak to Deputy Vanderhoven. The woman came out of the house and contacted deputy Vanderhoven. Deputy Vanderhoven continued to calm her down and rode along in the ambulance with the woman for safety reasons during transport to the Yavapai Regional Medical Center for mental health evaluation.
Certificate of Commendation Award Winners included Lieutenant Frank Barbaro, Deputy Stephen Berry, Sergeant Michael Dannison, Sergeant Chris Myhre, and Deputy Ethan Stover.
Basis for the award:
A mental health clinician from the Prescott area nominated all of the officers who were a part of creating a good outcome on May 15, 2015, due to the response by the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office to a woman with a weapon threatening suicide.
These deputies demonstrated great understanding of someone with a mental illness and employed techniques which are the accepted practices of trauma informed care. Their decision to take action by attempting to de-escalate the crisis without the use of force showed real excellence by this team of officers. The decision to reach out to a mental health agency to provide crisis response showed a powerful collaboration between criminal justice and mental health community partners. Their willingness to go so far as to not even handcuff the suicidal and distraught woman in order to convince her to turn to the officers for help rather than run from them in fear, was truly a display of excellence.
From Director and Founder, Mary Lou Brncik:
"Arizona Mental Health and Criminal Justice Coalition commend each and every officer here representing the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office, for your outstanding bravery and compassion as demonstrated on May 15, 2015. We commend you for your willingness to seek every remedy in preventing tragedy and serving to facilitate linkages to effective and adequate mental health treatment for those with mental impairments. We commend you and thank you for your spirit of excellence which brought this incident to a peaceful end with no serious injury or loss of life."
Contact for David's Hope -
Mary Lou Brncik
Director, Founder
David's Hope
davidshopeaz.org
602-774-4382
Community Book Discussion: Participate in the community book discussion of "The Help," by Kathryn Stockett, on Wednesday, 
