A team consisting of multiple Lake County police departments and social workers helping with crisis outreach has hit a “major milestone” by reaching its 5,000th request for service. The Crisis Outreach and Support Team (COaST) hit the milestone last month, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. Since the inception of the program in 2018, […]
Tag: mental health
Posted inLocal News
Officials tout success of police social worker program in McHenry County year after launch
Officials say the police social worker program in McHenry County is making a difference and changing lives for the better following the program’s first year in operation. The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office created a police social worker program in 2017 to alleviate their office’s responses to mental health-related calls for service. The sheriff’s office expanded […]
Posted inLocal News
3 sheriff’s deputies hailed for helping save man who tried to harm himself by running in front of cars in Beach Park
Authorities are hailing three sheriff’s deputies for their actions in saving a suicidal man who tried running into the path of moving vehicles in Beach Park Monday afternoon. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded around 12:30 p.m. Monday to a residence in the 38700 block of North Sheridan Road in Beach Park. Lake County Sheriff’s […]
Posted inLocal News
‘Lives have undoubtedly been saved’: Lake County police social worker program records successful first year
A newly-created team consisting of multiple Lake County police departments and social workers helping with crisis outreach handled over 1,000 requests in its first year. The multi-agency Crisis Outreach and Support Team (COaST) initiative launched in January 2022. It consists of members from the Gurnee Police Department, Lake Forest Police Department, Libertyville Police Department, Lincolnshire […]
Posted inLocal News
Lake County Sheriff Canine Dax locates man armed with knife who committed self-harm near Lake Villa
Authorities said that Lake County Sheriff Canine Dax located a missing man armed with a knife in a field near Lake Villa after he harmed himself. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office was called last night to the area of Route 59 and Monaville Road in unincorporated Lake Villa. A man had harmed himself and went […]
Posted inState News
988 line, similar to 911, launches in Illinois and rest of U.S. to help those in mental crisis
The new 988 hotline, similar to 911, launched nationwide Saturday to make it easier for those who are suicidal or experiencing other mental crises to get help. Vibrant Emotional Health, the nonprofit administrator of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, said the new 988 number is easy for people to remember. Previously, the number for the […]
Posted inLocal News
Police conducting death investigation after man found dead behind high school in Crystal Lake
Police are investigating the death of a middle-aged man who was found suffering from an “obvious injury” on the rear property of Crystal Lake Central High School Wednesday evening. The Crystal Lake Police Department and Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department responded around 6:48 p.m. to the rear property of Crystal Lake Central High School, 45 […]
Posted inLocal News
McHenry County Sheriff’s Office officially launches countywide police social worker program
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office has launched a new program with 17 local police departments to have social workers respond alongside officers to certain calls involving mental health crises. The program was kicked off during an event at The Community Foundation for McHenry County in Crystal Lake on Tuesday. In attendance were stakeholders, participating agencies […]
Posted inLocal News
Gov. Pritzker signs bill giving Waukegan, other Illinois cities funding for police co-responder program
The governor on Tuesday signed a bill into law that will require social workers and police officers in Waukegan and other Illinois cities to work together when responding to 911 calls. House Bill 4736 creates the Co-Responders Pilot Program to have police in certain parts of the state begin a joint effort with multiple social […]