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W E D N E S D A Y
June 14, 2023 Vol. 43, No. 46
$2.00 @wednesdayjournalinc
@wednesdayjournal
JOURNAL @oakpark
Special section
of Oak Park and River Forest
Page 15
Add crisis workers to police force, report urges
Task force says cops not best first response to mental-health crises By STACEY SHERIDAN Senior Reporter
Heritage of neglect TODD A. BANNOR
Senior residents Betty Coffey, Rita Arrington and Irma Baker have allegedly endured substandard conditions from poor management at the privately owned Heritage House. Report by Stacey Sheridan, page 13
The final report of an Oak Park village task force on policing and mental health concluded that sending police officers as first responders to a mental health crisis was not the right policy. Instead the 30-member committee urged the Oak Park village board to hire trained crisis workers and social workers to the police department staff. The report, which included 47 key recommendations, was well received Monday night by the Oak Park village board which praised its thoroughness and thoughtfulness. The report was received by the board June 12 for
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See TASK FORCE on page 14
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