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Veterans Response Team Pilot

A police officer kneels in front of a woman who is seated with her head in her hands and visibly distressed.
Stock imagery of a police officer kneeling in front of a woman who is seated with her head in her hands and visibly distressed. This image captures the intent of the Veterans Response Team (VRT), where police officers who are also Veterans and trained VRT members, are prepared to assist when called to do so.
By Michael Hamill, Public Affairs Specialist

An effort to quickly connect Veterans to the resources they need in the community is now underway in Montgomery County.

Coatesville VAMC and Montgomery County have collaborated on a Veterans Response Team (VRT) to strengthen the relationship between key VA staff and community law enforcement agencies with the goal to train officers in helping Veterans access the care they need.

To be eligible for VRT training, officers must be a Veteran-officer who has graduated from the County Crisis Intervention Training.

Montgomery County is working with Coatesville to pilot the VRT program by coordinating and conducting portions of the VRT training sessions for local law enforcement.

Officers learn the specific needs of Veterans and the common resources to assist them.

Resources, including VA and Veteran-centered Montgomery County community resources, cover crisis intervention, housing, counseling support and of course health care.

Lt Dennis Basmajian, a VA Police Officer and Rhonda Sanford, a Social Worker in the Veterans Justice Office, are Coatesville’s liaisons to the Veterans Response team and work with representatives from the county to identify resources and make them available to Veterans within their community.

The team hopes to help grow the VRT program in Montgomery County and discuss developing teams in neighboring counties in the future.

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