07/29/2026
Here’s to continuing to build programs that bring behavioral health and public safety together for the benefit of our communities. So incredibly proud !!!
CHIEF KINGSBURY’S STATEMENT REGARDING POLICE RESPONSE TO MENTAL HEALTH SITUATIONS
To remain transparent with our community, Chief William Kingsbury has released a statement explaining how the Medway Police Department responds to mental health-related calls for service.
Our officers and embedded mental health clinician regularly respond to individuals experiencing some of the most difficult and vulnerable moments of their lives. These calls are often complex and require patience, compassion, and careful judgment. Much of this work happens quietly through crisis intervention, follow-up contacts, referrals, and ongoing efforts to connect individuals and families with appropriate services.
Every Medway Police officer has completed Mental Health First Aid training; 96% have completed Crisis Intervention Team training, and the department has recently reestablished its embedded Mental Health Clinician Program. Officers responded to at least 107 documented mental health-related calls last year and have already responded to 164 this year. These figures do not capture the full scope of the follow-up encounters, community engagement efforts, and other mental health-related assistance provided by our officers and clinician.
The statement explains the legal standards that guide these responses. A mental health condition alone does not authorize officers to take someone into custody or compel treatment. We must evaluate the complete circumstances and determine whether the specific legal criteria for an involuntary mental health evaluation have been met. Not every concerning or unusual encounter is a mental health emergency, and when criminal conduct is involved, officers must respond based on the person’s conduct, the circumstances, and Massachusetts law.
Community members have every right to ask questions about police actions. At the same time, conclusions based on limited information may not reflect the full circumstances officers encountered or the legal limitations under which they were required to act.
Chief Kingsbury’s full statement provides important context about the work our officers and clinicians perform every day, the department’s training and resources, and the difficult decisions involved in responding lawfully and compassionately to these calls. We sincerely thank our officers and mental health clinicians for the patience, professionalism, and compassion they bring to these challenging situations every day, much of which occurs quietly and outside of public view.
We respectfully ask that you please take a few minutes to read Chief Kingsbury’s full statement before commenting or drawing conclusions about these complex responses.
Read the full statement here: https://medwayma.gov/news-and-notices/mpd-chief-kingsburys-statement-regarding-police-response-to-mental-health-situations/
