Public Safety: Helena

Helena Police Department extends a hand to veterans with a new program

Officers Kristopher Cooper and Marquese Jackson hold the American flag at a walk/ run event. (Photo provided)

By LAUREN CAGGIANO | The Municipal

Veterans run the gamut in terms of the nature, scope and extent of their service; however, one thing they have in common is the difficulty of transitioning back into civilian life, which isn’t always widely understood or appreciated. That’s why a program—the first of its kind—launched early this year in Helena, Ala., is designed to address that elephant in the room.

Helena Police Department’s Officer Marquese Jackson provides some context.

“When Chief (Brad) Flynn came on, he wanted to create a veterans program,” he said. “And so, he brought in a couple of us as a team to go out and do some community outreach with veterans and get to know the veterans and see what issues arise.”

Each year, nearly 200,000 service members transition from the military back to their civilian communities. Sometimes they reenter public life seamlessly, while others have a harder time.

Jackson said being a veteran himself, he feels uniquely qualified to offer assistance. For instance, if they’re homeless or struggling with mental health concerns, sometimes they just need an ear and someone who will listen without judgment.

Jackson, who was trained as a suicide prevention officer in the military, has the expertise and qualifications to act accordingly. He said there’s an overlap between military and public safety service, as they both deal with traumatic events.

“We’re always there constantly,” he said. “And there’s always an officer available. They do have some officers who offer peer support, so they’re able to talk through the situation.”

In addition to offering moral support, officers can connect veterans with relevant agencies that might help, but that’s really second to the emotional connection. Whatever the nature of the interaction, this outreach is important to the Helena community. The area has a good number of veterans Officer Marquese Jackson poses with his K-9. Jackson has specialized training to address mental health on the job. (Photo provided)

with a nearby Air Force base and other military presence.

Still, according to Jackson’s peer on the force, Officer Kristopher Cooper, it’s less about numbers and more about the vital nature of the work.

“The thing about veterans is fellow ones are easy to spot because we all act alike,” Cooper said. “We like to hide our scars and the experiences we’ve been through. We all hide to some extent.”

That’s why it’s critical to address mental health issues before they can spiral out of control. According to Jackson, they rally around the cause of suicide prevention as it relates to the veteran population. For instance, earlier this year, officers hosted a 4.2-mile run to raise awareness around the issue. Jackson said 300 people came out, which he considers a good turnout. If anything, these efforts will translate into increased visibility and hopefully save lives at the same time.

The rate of suicide among veterans ticked upward in recent years despite increased public attention and funding on the problem, according to a new report released by Department of Veterans Affairs officials in November 2020. The rate of suicide among veterans was at 17.6 a day in 2018. That’s a slight increase from 2017 when the number was 17.5. And perhaps even more concerning, mental health experts have warned the pandemic may be causing even larger increases in the rates of mental distress and self-harm among veterans.

Acknowledging this reality, Jackson said the veterans program could be a lifeline of sorts.

“It’s letting them know that they do have an option to reach out to us if they get to that point,” he said.

Going forward, they hope to start offering monthly group meetings once restrictions imposed by the pandemic are removed. They’re also looking into Zoom or outdoor sessions. Whatever the venue, Jackson said the objective is to stay in touch with the community. And at the time of press, the department was planning a walk-run awareness event on May 22 with a community partner.

In the meantime, officers are taking stock of the feedback so far, which has been largely positive. They also want to broaden the program’s reach and focus. Cooper’s message is one of solidarity and hope.

“Just because it’s geared toward veterans, we’re open to anybody — whether it’s law enforcement, fire, any first responder group,” he said. “(Whatever they share) is going to stay confidential and everything. But at the same time, if there’s a civilian facing mental health challenges, we’re always going to be willing to help.”