Preserves the peace within Lubbock County by use of all lawful means and shall, when authorized by law, interfere to prevent and suppress crime. The Mental Health Deputy Program will help improve the crisis response system by diverting people in need of behavioral health crisis services from hospitals and jails to community-based alternatives that provide effective behavioral health treatment at less cost. Mental Health Deputies are officers specially trained in crisis intervention through Texas Commission on Law Enforcement who work collaboratively with the community and crisis-response teams.

• Promote and maintain a safe and peaceful community.
• Preserve order.
• Protect life and property.
• Enforce laws and ordinances.
• Safeguard individual Liberties.
• Treat others with fairness, dignity, and respect.
• Carries out duties in conformance with Federal and State statutes while following the Policies and Procedures of Lubbock County and the Lubbock County Sheriff's Office.
• Responds to emergencies as a first responder.
• Provides mutual assistance during emergency situations.
• Attends required departmental meetings.
• Performs other duties as may be assigned by supervisory personnel.
• Takes calls for services and writes reports as needed.
• Prepares for and testifies in court.
• Serves criminal and mental health warrants.
• Assists other divisions of the Sheriff's Office, as well as other law enforcement agencies.
• Assists at crime scenes.
• Patrols county area, ensuring citizen safety.
• Maintains contact with department supervisory personnel to coordinate activities.
• Works an assigned shift using discretionary judgment in the performance of sworn duties.
• Maintain a Mental Health Deputy Program that promotes collaboration between local law enforcement and mental health professionals to provide crisis intervention and crisis stabilization services to individuals in behavioral health emergencies.

The Mental Health Deputy Program will: divert individuals from unnecessary arrests and bookings; divert individuals from unnecessary hospitalizations; provides timely crisis intervention and crisis stabilization services; and provides referrals and linkage to long-term community mental health services.

• Coordinate with the Patrol Division personnel to respond to requests for crisis intervention for individuals identified to be in a behavioral health emergency.
• Serve as a liaison between the Patrol Division and community stakeholders with an interest in behavioral health services.
• Ensure Mental Health Deputies transport individuals in behavioral health emergencies to the appropriate service location where the individual can receive crisis stabilization services.

Service locations may include the following: community hospitals, contracted psychiatric beds, crisis respite units, crisis residential units, extended observation units, crisis stabilization units, and state hospital facilities.

• Ensure that when clinically appropriate, Mental Health Deputies collaborate with staff of the local mental health facilities to institute an emergency detention or seek a judge's or magistrate's order for emergency apprehension and detention under Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 573 (Emergency Detention).
• In accordance with Texas Health and Safety Code 574.023 (Apprehension Under Order) Mental Health Deputies, where determined appropriate, transport individuals requiring admission to an inpatient mental health facility.
• Maintain mandatory training standards prescribed by Texas Commission on Law Enforcement for Mental Health Peace Officers which may include: recognizing signs and symptoms of mental illness, substance use, and co-occurring mental illness, understanding cultural issues, Crisis Intervention, De-escalation, and information on community resources.
• Coordinate with Detention Re-entry staff to establish follow up procedures for individuals being released from custody and being made ready to reintroduce into the community.

Qualification Requirements:

High school diploma or GED and Peace Officer certification through TCOLE. Mental Health Peace Officer Certification within one year of selection.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of the Texas Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, Traffic Code, Health and Safety Code, and Family Code; search and seizure laws, investigations and crime prevention methods, and defensive tactics. Ability to safely operate vehicles, firearms, and specialized equipment; physically restrain individuals; make decisions quickly; read and write reports, letters, and operate computers. The ability to interpret laws, policies, and procedures; recognize problems and recommend solutions, establish and maintain effective relationships with other law enforcement agencies, the District Attorney's Office, other departmental employees, and the general public; demonstrate proficiency in both oral and written communications, maintain accurate records; maintain appropriate certifications, and a good driving record.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

High School Diploma or GED certificate; Possess a valid Texas Driver's License. A valid Peace Officer Certification from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE). Mental Health Peace Officer Certification within one year of selection.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to lift and/or move objects weighing up to 20 pounds, such as books and records and occasionally must lift and move objects weighing up to 100 pounds or more. The employee may be called upon during emergency situations to exert intense physical exertion, such as run, jump, crawl, or other physical aspects of law enforcement duties. The employee must be able to complete a one mile run in under 12:30 minutes, be able to complete 20 pushups in a minute, and 20 sit-ups in a minute.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The working environment will include, but is not limited to the following: Wind, rain, sleet, snow, hail, and temperature ranging from below 0 degrees to above 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

DISCLAIMER

The above description reflects the details considered necessary to describe the standard functions of this position and should not be constructed as a thorough description of all work requirements. The characteristics of the work environment described are representative of those that an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Equal Employment Employer:

Lubbock County will not discriminate in our employment practices based on an applicant's race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or status as a protected veteran.