ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. (WXYZ) — After a gunman opened fire at a Rochester Hills splash pad on Saturday, shooting and killing nine people, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said he only has one officer responding to mental health calls and that the sheriff’s department needs more mental health resources.
He suggested at a news conference Monday that the shooter was paranoid, believed the government was watching him and had 12 weapons in his home.
“I’ve been pushing for mental health resources for the community. We respond to mental health calls almost every day,” Bouchard said.
Watch Bouchard’s full press conference below:
Oakland County Sheriff issues update on victims and investigation in Rochester Hills Splash Pad shooting
The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office said it has a partner cell from the Oakland County Health Network stationed in Pontiac to accompany deputies in responding to mental health calls, but Bouchard said more partners are needed to prevent tragedies in the area.
“Law enforcement and public safety agencies need more peer-to-peer mental health support within their agencies,” he said.
Bouchard said mental health may have played a role in Saturday’s shooting in Rochester Hills, saying the shooter “was telling us the government was after them.”
“From my layman’s perspective, it appears he clearly had some mental issues,” the sheriff said.
VIDEO: What we know about the Rochester Hills Splash Pad shooter and his motives
What we know about the Rochester Hills Splash Pad shooter and his motives
The Detroit Police Department is also responding to a surprising number of mental health crises, and says that through a partnership with the Detroit Wayne Integrated Healthcare Network, it is able to bring trained mental health professionals on board those calls.
“We’ve received over 6,900 calls for service already this year, an average of 41 per day,” Detroit Police Capt. Tonya Leonard said. “When you call 911, you can access our CIT (crisis intervention team) trained officers and our mental health response team.”
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The Detroit Police Department has even been able to hire 11 mental health officers thanks to additional funding from the state, a benefit Bouchard apparently wants to see extended to her.
RELATED: GoFundMe page confirmed by authorities after Rochester Hills splash pad shooting here
“A lot of people at the federal level and at the state level have asked us what they can do, and what they can do is send resources,” he said.
Mental Health Resources in Detroit through the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network:
Mobile Crisis Response Unit
- To contact the Mobile Crisis Unit, call 844-IN CRISIS or 844-462-7474. By the end of June, 12 vans will be running 24/7.
707 Crisis Care Center
- The new crisis care center will officially open on June 10th.. If you require service, please call us at 313-989-9444 or come in and a staff member will assist you.
Visit our Helpline
- As always, anyone can call the Access Helpline at any time, 24 hours a day, at 800-241-4949 to receive information, be connected to a mobile unit, inquire about crisis care centers or be connected to a nearby provider.
ReachUsDetroit.org (free text line):
- If you’re more comfortable texting, you can call 313-488-HOPE or 313-488-4673 to receive up to 12 free consultations, regardless of insurance. Anyone 14 years of age or older can do so.
Oakland County Mental Health Resources:
- Oakland County 24-Hour Crisis Helpline: 800-231-1127
- Michigan Crisis Access Line: 1-844-446-4225
- North Oakland County Coalition: noccmi.org/resources
