Fairfield Police Department Prepares To Hire Clinical Social Worker

FAIRFIELD, CT — The Fairfield Police Department is on the cusp of hiring a licensed clinical social worker, a first for the department, "with a goal of addressing the areas of mental health and addiction services."

"We expect to have the position filled by next week," Fairfield Police Capt. Edward Weihe told Patch on Tuesday.

Over the past few years, the Fairfield Police Department has seen a dramatic increase in calls that require the involvement of members of the department's "Crisis Intervention Team." CIT is a special program, launched in 2011, that features officers, detectives and dispatchers trained in recognizing "a wide variety of Mental Health and Substance Abuse issues."

In 2017, the department had 44 such calls, according to Weihe, and after rising in 2018, the number dropped to 22 in 2019.

However, in 2020, coinciding with the pandemic, that number rose to 62, and in 2021, it increased to 96.

So far in 2022, the number of crisis intervention calls has exploded to more than 475 in Fairfield.

As it pertains to kids, Fairfield Police Det. Beth Leetch said the increase in crisis calls is largely due to stresses within a family.

"The majority of crimes we see involving kids is often due to a family in crisis, parents with mental health issues," Leetch said during a recent Board of Finance meeting where the new position was discussed.

Weihe did not offer additional details on Tuesday about the new social worker position, but said during the recent Board of Finance meeting that the person will be able to help coordinate additional services for people in crisis, which the department hopes will decrease recidivism.

First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick agreed, stressing that the social worker will supplement law enforcement efforts in those crisis areas that have become more acute since the beginning of the pandemic.

"We have at-risk youth who need additional assistance, and people with mental health issues who also need help," Kupchick said.

Starting salary for the position will be in excess in $70,000.