Commission considers opioid-abatement appropriations, endorses planning for co-responder mental-health units

The Sullivan County Commission discussed multiple resolutions to appropriate opioid-abatement funds for county programs including the Sheriff's Office medical/mental-health program and a proposed co-responder program that would place trained mental-health professionals alongside deputies in patrol vehicles.

Commissioner Carr described the co-responder proposal—modeled on Bristol, Tennessee’s program—and asked the body to fund two co-responder positions and associated equipment. He said Bristol’s co-responder team responded to roughly 900 calls with nine arrests in one report cited by presenters, and argued the approach keeps people with mental illness out of jail and reduces officers’ time in emergency rooms. Commissioner Ward described recent on-the-ground incidents to underscore need, recounting an 83-year-old woman with severe dementia who was charged after a confrontation and saying a co-responder might have prevented incarceration.

The opioid-abatement committee had recommended awards in committee meetings; some commissioners objected to finalizing appropriations immediately because of other pending commitments (including an existing $513,000 Families First award and a possible property purchase) and asked to delay votes to the next meeting or process them via waiver of rules. Supporters responded that several programs already operating had unanimous committee approval and that timely funding would allow the sheriff’s office to implement co-responder teams quickly.

Commissioners asked for presentations from Bristol and Washington County officials who operate similar programs; staff said Captain Dillard (Bristol PD) and other presenters would appear at the next meeting. Multiple commissioners signaled support for the co-responder concept, and sponsors moved several items to next week’s agenda on waiver of rules to allow a fuller presentation and to ensure funding is tracked to the appropriate programs.