Law enforcement sees staggering increase in mental health, substance abuse calls in 2020

DAYTON — Law enforcement agencies are reporting that they have seen an increase in rates of suicide, substance abuse, and mental health issues since the start of the COVID pandemic.

Dayton police say they have been seeing an increase in calls for situations involving potential mental health issues for several years, but in 2020 the numbers rose almost 40 percent.

“We clearly saw an escalation during the COVID epidemic,” said Chief Richard Biehl.

Anytime officers go on a call involving mental health concerns it presents danger, he said.

In April of 2020, 35-year-old Derek Wolfe went outside with an assault-style rifle.

Neighbors reported he was yelling about COVID, drones and China, then fired shots.

Officers opened fire on Wolfe when he refused several orders to drop the weapon and instead pointed it at them. He suffered critical injuries, but survived.

“This never got better all year long, to be quite honest,” Biehl said.

The three-year average for mental health calls is about 3,900, but in 2020 officers saw almost 5,500 calls for service.

In September, police say they were forced to shoot 49-year-old Shawn Keirns on Wayne Avenue after he stole a gun from a driver he flagged down.

He then ran down the street firing randomly before pointing it at officers who then fired at him.

Police say the long-term solution is not their emergency response but more access to proactive mental health care.

“The amount of time this has lasted, that takes a toll on everyone,” said Helen Jones-Kelley, executive director of the alcohol, drug addiction and mental health services board.

They are finding more creative ways of outreach as the COVID epidemic drags on and expanding mental health services.

“Letting people know you care, you’re worth it, they’re valuable, we want them to stay here,” Jones-Kelley said.

Police say while community resources are built up, they will continue emergency interventions like taking people to the hospital for psychiatric care.

“Sometimes people don’t want to go but are a danger to themselves or others so we transport them, whether they want to go or not,” Biehl said.

Police have recently received funding to bring back their mobile crisis response teams, and they are hopeful this can help bring down the numbers or get people better long-term care.

Cox Media Group