CommUnity Crisis Services and Food Bank is pleased to announce the hiring of Joachim Seelos as the new Law Enforcement Liaison to work with the Iowa City Police Department.
The LE Liaison model is being implemented by CommUnity and the Iowa City Police Department, in collaboration with Foundation 2. The new position will offer formal and informal cross-training between law enforcement and behavioral health disciplines, alternative response and intervention for those experiencing a mental health crisis, and an increase in follow up and resource connection for individuals and families. The goal of this partnership is to best serve individuals experiencing a mental health crisis; avoiding unnecessary arrests, reducing repeat 911 calls, decreasing law enforcement contact, and connecting community members to available resources.
“The Iowa City Police Department is looking forward to the partnership with the new LE Liaison,” said Chief Of Police Dustin Liston. “We feel this is a step in the right direction to provide much needed services to those experiencing a mental health crisis that does not involve the traditional law enforcement response. We are hopeful that with early intervention by the LE Liaison, the potential for negative outcomes will be reduced.”
Joachim Seelos is originally from Lafayette, Louisiana and moved to Iowa City from Kansas City, Missouri, where he graduated from Park University, home of the Pirates, and worked extensively with homeless youth and in child welfare.
“I feel honored to be in this position as the Mental Health/Law Enforcement Liaison and bring a deeper sense of empathy to the Iowa City community,” said Seelos.
Seelos will undergo extensive training for the next month and will begin working with the ICPD at the end of August.
