The El Paso County Sheriff s Office announced Monday it will partner with the Fountain Police Department as part of a program that pairs law enforcement officers with licensed behavioral health clinicians.
The Behavioral Health Connect Unit (BHCON, pronounced beacon ) is a patrol unit introduced by Sheriff Bill Elder in 2018. Fountain police introduced its own BHCON program Monday and will assist the Sheriff s Office s south districts.
On a BHCON call, a Fountain police officer would make first contact, de-escalate and develop an initial rapport with the person and then make a decision to call in the health clinician. The clinician then follows up with a behavioral assessment, provides resources to a third party, takes the person to the hospital or admits them to a mental health or detox facility, and makes a referral for a case manager to follow up among other steps.