$363k grant increases coverage for Milford police, helps tackle opioid crisis

MILFORD, Del. – New grant funding is headed to the Milford Police Department to expand their Behavioral Health Unit and help address the state’s opioid overdose crisis.

The behavioral health unit takes a dual approach to responding to calls for mental health emergencies. Clinicians ride side by side with the officers and provide training on how to identify behavioral health issues and de-escalation tactics. “Each of us have a responsibility in 21st century policing to look at the different ways in how we can police our communities,” Chief Ashe said.

“If there’s someone who has an opioid addiction, you don’t always know how they’re going act. I think a normal police officer would act like a normal police officer, but a clinician will evaluate the situation a little differently,” Mayor Archie Campbell said.

Police Chief Cecilia Ashe said that the $363,000 federal grant will increase the unit’s coverage to seven days a week, providing the two current part-time clinicians with additional working hours as well has hiring on more staff. “We’re not at 24-hour coverage yet, but that’s kind of the point of the grant is to look at what is the need. This is something that will help us to assess if we have that need within our community,” Chief Ashe said.

The grant was received from the US Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA): Comprehensive Opioid, Opioid Stimulant, and Substance Use Program (COSSUP) through the State of Delaware Criminal Justice Council (CJC).

Data from the Delaware Prescription Monitoring Initiative revealed the Milford zip code has the third highest overdose rate in the state. Despite that, Mayor Archie Campbell says the department has been very aggressive in their approach to combat the issue adding the new funding provides another layer of protection. “Whatever they need, we need to get it to them. They’re the ones who keep the streets safe. With the epidemic we have, it’s scary,” he said.

“Police are not the only solution and we’re not going to arrest our way out of this problem,” Chief Ashe said.

The unit has seen success with arrest diversions and placing individuals they come into contact with into some form of treatment.

The idea was presented back in 2020 by Milford City Councilman Jason James Sr.