Falmouth Police Focusing on Overdose and Mental Health Issues

Falmouth Police Chief Ed Dunne

FALMOUTH – Police in Falmouth are focusing on prevention efforts when it comes to heroin overdoses and mental health issues.

From April through July, officers responded to 54 heroin overdoses, four of which resulted in death.

Police Chief Ed Dunne says the department has made 41 home visits with counselors with Gosnold on Cape Cod and 8 individuals have accepted treatment.

“We continue to work very strong to try to quell the heroin overdose problem in this community,” Dunne said during a selectmen’s meeting at the end of July.

Police have responded to 47 calls dealing with mental health from April 20 through July 24 bringing the yearly total up to 96 calls. The department responded to 143 mental health-related calls in 2015.

Police have also made 26 mental health visits, with Mark Abbott from Falmouth Human Services, to homes that have required multiple police calls.

“Some of the people that we have gone to talk with have already sought or were assisted in seeking services through the Department of Mental Health,” Dunne said.

Through July, the department has responded to over 10 percent more calls overall compared to last year.

Dunne says the increase is in officer-initiated calls as the department has added 11 new officers this year.

“The new officers are very eager,” Dunne said.