Three months into its new Behavioral Health Unit, Sheriff Chad Chronister said the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office is are already seeing positive community results. This program gives HCSO deputies more mental health crisis training and pairs them with licensed mental health counselors and social workers when they work to make contact with people in crisis. 

In one example, Sheriff Chronister said, the new initiative helped a man in his 50s who his deputies know well. 

“Over the past 15 years, we have had contact with this person more than 100 times," Chronister explained. “This unit, unlike some others, is not a reactive unit. This unit is going to be extremely proactive and preventative.”

“Often times people with mental illness they see a uniform show up, they see all of our gear, they get they get turned off with that. So with having these social workers on board with us, it allows that communication," said Master Deputy Tobias Smith, HCSO Behavioral Health Deputy.

While the number of people who have been detained under the Baker Act in Hillsborough County has gone down over the years, there are still thousands of people taken in every year.

“Because in today’s society what has happened, is they call law enforcement for everything, and so we get the phone call for behavioral health or mental health. We also get the call for homelessness. But these are very complex problems," said Sgt. Duane Benton, Behavioral Health Resource Supervisor.

Sheriff Chronister made it clear, this is a voluntary system, too. 

“These are voluntary services," said Chronister. "If we make contact with an individual and they say they don’t want the help, well obviously that is the first and biggest obstacle that we face. Then we will leave and scratch them off the list, and certainly provide our contact information. We see if all the time, if they change their mind, they can give us a phone call, and we will come back out and try to provide those services.”

"Outside of this unit, the sheriff said everyone with his agency will receive expanded crisis intervention training. Deputies will get 40 hours and civilians will get 32 hours of training.

As for the man in his 50s with ongoing mental health issues, the sheriff said they have already witnessed progress. 

“They now meet with him, they provide basic needs, essential needs – shelter, food, clothing. And this, we think, is being preventative. Not only do we think this is a great humanity in helping get the help he needs. But it is crime preventative too. He is not shoplifting, he is not out committing the thefts to get to get those essential needs that he once needed," said Chronister.

Spectrum Bay News 9 reached out to the two men running against Chronister in the upcoming election, Gary Pruitt and Rod McMullen. 

"This is nothing more than a political stunt to get more time in front of the TV with his name showing on at least five areas visible to the camera," said Pruitt. "Under my leadership, I want all deputies to be trained and empowered to assist those in mental crisis without having to enter them into the justice system and then have a “follow up” visit by a unit after to offer assistance.”

"Although I believe that we should do more to assist those suffering from mental health and substance abuse issues, I want to know why it took the sheriff years to establish this unit, only to unveil it two weeks before an election," said McMullen. "I commend the Sheriff for finally getting on board this idea that my campaign has been talking about since the beginning of the campaign."