About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (July 3, 2020)
Promising UGA pitcher getting back in the groove in Gainesville. SPORTS, 10B (the etm t% Weekend Edition - JULY 4-5,2020 | $2.00 | GAINESVILLE, GEORGIA | gainesvilletimes.com Honestly Local Mental health calls challenge cops Officers take extra training, department hires clinicians to aid response ‘It’s not always a diagnosable mental illness that causes problems, but it can be a lack of family support, childhood trauma, issues with poverty and housing, and things like that that really create a need.’ Anjana Freeman mental health clinician BY MEGAN REED mreed@gainesvilletimes.com When law enforcement is called to a situation, it often can be tense. When that situation involves some one with trauma in his or her back ground or with mental illness, it can be especially difficult for all involved. “It’s not always a diagnosable mental illness that causes prob lems, but it can be a lack of family support, childhood trauma, issues with poverty and housing, and things like that that really create a need,” said Anjana Freeman, a mental health clinician hired in March to work with the Gaines ville Police Department. “When a person responds to that need, a lot of times they respond in a way that brings attention to law enforce ment because they may be doing something illegal in order to fill a need that originated with instabil ity in their community, and in their home, and personal instability.” Freeman responds to situations in the field with Gainesville Police officers and consults with officers to advise them on encounters in the community. Freeman, who has also worked with several area nonprofits, said many problems in society can be traced back to mental health. And Freeman said mental health outreach is “as much about pre vention as it is about intervention. ” “If I can intervene and get them resourced and connect them with community and help them build a sense of stability and safety, then the likelihood that they’re going to do something that creates another contact with law enforcement goes down tremendously,” she said. Behaviors that may seem aggressive can be triggered by trauma or a mental health issue, Freeman said. “Often, people who are feeling defensive, and speaking in terms of current events, who may have racial or cultural trauma, they’re sort of expecting the worst and so they become defensive,” Freeman said. “Officers being able to recog nize the signs of somebody who is being triggered, even if the officer is not doing anything to actively be ■ Please see MENTAL, 4A ‘A matter of life, breath and death’ Photos by NICK WATSON I The Times Gainesville Police Chief Jay Parrish answers a question from the audience Thursday, July 2, at the Newtown Florist Club’s open- air conversation. The chief responded to concerns submitted by members of the public such as minority hiring, transparency and training. Law enforcement officials share concerns with public at forum The Rev. Rose Johnson, executive director of the Newtown Florist Club, speaks at the beginning of the club’s open-air conversation Thursday, July 2. The event brought members of law enforcement and the criminal justice system to address community concerns and potential reform. BY NICK WATSON nwatson@gainesvilletimes.com Calling it a matter “of life, breath and death,” the Rev. Rose Johnson kicked off the open-air conversation as another step on the road to reform. “We begin this conversation tonight by answering the question about why we cannot let this go, because for us, it is always a matter of life, a matter of breath, and a matter of death. It’s a matter of life, breath and death every day, and we just don’t want our community to become a place where a national tragedy involving our law enforcement ■ Please see FORUM, 6A Vacation spots suffer spike in virus cases BY KELSEY P0D0 kpodo@gainesvilletimes.com Beachgoers have more than cloudy skies to worry about this summer. Over the past week, Sunbelt states such as Florida, have closed bars and beaches, reduced restaurant capacities and placed limits on crowds at pools because of a surge in confirmed COVID-19 cases. Florida cases spiked in late June, especially in younger people, according to The Associated Press. Those in Florida ages 15 to 34 make up 31% of all infections, which jumped from 25% in early June. ■ Please see TRAVEL, 6A Times building to reopen On Monday, July 6, The Times will again be open to the public 8:30-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the news paper office on Green Street has been closed for the past several weeks, though employees have continued to print and mail The Times and to post content to gainesvilletimes.com. “Due to changes in the workplace, many of our employees will continue to work from home, but we will have sufficient staffing to maintain regular office hours,” said Norman Baggs, general manager. “While we still hope to limit personal interactions, we know there are some instances where business is best done in person. “As many of our employees will be working irregular office schedules, we encourage visi tors to check in advance to make sure the person they need to see is working,” Baggs said. Visitors to The Times are asked to wear appropriate facemasks to protect the health of both themselves and Times employees. The drive-through window at The Times will continue to be staffed during office hours and is an option for visitors who prefer not to come inside the building. There is also a night drop box for after-hour payments and delivery of small parcels. The Times is at 345 Green St., Gainesville; telephone 770-532-1234. DEATHS 2B Carolyn Anderson, 75 Mary Culberhouse, 83 Glenda Daniels, 61 Willie Davis, 82 Mary Dunn, 94 Joyce Hill, 87 Gayle Jackson, 72 Gordon Lewallen, 83 George Manley Jr., 76 Charles McGuire, 78 Aline Picklesimer, 67 Emerson Stow Jr., 80 Stanley Strickland, 84 Stephen Thrasher, 62 Carol Turner, 77 Edmund Waller, 88 Shirley Wells, 84 Roy Whitfield, 95 Carl Yarbrough Jr., 87 4 0 9 01 06825 9 YOUR CARE FROM ANYWHERE. nghs.com/video-visits
