This week, I hosted the first of four discussions in our Mental Health and Criminal Justice Summer Round Table Series. The series is focused on identifying best practices and innovative strategies to help improve how Florida’s criminal justice system addresses individuals suffering from mental health issues.

This first round table looked at ways we can improve mental health within Florida’s law enforcement ranks. According to BlueHelp.org, 165 active and retired law enforcement officers nationwide committed suicide in 2018. That same year, 163 officers died in the line of duty.

Let that sink in for a minute. More active and retired law enforcement officers took their own lives last year than were killed while protecting their communities.

Suicide is a silent epidemic threatening our law enforcement ranks, and we will not remain silent about this topic. That is why I joined Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister and more than 40 law enforcement leaders from across the state to discuss ways to prevent suicide and ensure officers can access life-saving services when they need them most. State Senator Darryl Rouson and Representative Dianne Hart also joined the discussion.

This is such an important topic; therefore, we are hosting this series in different cities across our state—to engage lawmakers, law enforcement officers, judges and other criminal justice leaders in the communities they serve.

The next round table will focus on addressing mental health issues prior to arrests. The event will be held at the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office on June 26.

For more information, and for details on the remaining round table discussions, click here.