The Bucks County Veterans Response Team (VRT) is veterans helping veterans. Law enforcement officers with military service can now be trained on how to provide “deflection” intervention to meet the needs of justice-involved veterans while avoiding unnecessary arrests or involuntary commitments.
The first graduating class of the VRT included 28 officers/military veterans from several police departments throughout the county. Matt Allen, Director of Bucks County Veterans Affairs led the training along with the Bucks County Department of Behavioral Health and Development Programs, the Bucks County Sheriff’s Office, the Philadelphia VA and Lenape Valley Foundation.
The initiative is made possible by the Bucks County Commissioners, the District Attorney’s Office and the Bucks County Police Chief’s Association.
For more information about the Veterans Response Team (VRT), please call 215-345-3881 or email mtallen@buckscounty.org