ATLANTIC CITY, NJ – The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office (ACPO) conducted its first Veterans Response Team (VRT) Training on September 19 and 20 at Caesars Hotel & Casino. The event was led by ACPO detectives Hannah Piatt and Christopher Southard.
The VRT’s objective is to deploy military veteran police officers to service calls that involve fellow military veterans. These officers use their specialized training in de-escalation techniques and work closely with various veterans affairs social services. The team also participates in community events and stand-downs aimed at assisting at-risk veterans.
The two-day training session covered a range of mental health issues relevant to the veteran community, including addiction, post-traumatic stress disorder, and suicide prevention. Trainees participated in role-playing scenarios to apply their newly acquired skills.
Atlantic County Prosecutor William Reynolds expressed his support for the program and commended the dedication of the trainees. Certificates and Challenge Coins were distributed to the graduates at the conclusion of the training.
The event had about twenty graduates, with half coming from Atlantic County and the other half from neighboring states. Several agencies contributed to the training’s success, including CIT-NJ, Wilmington VA, Housing and Urban Development Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH), and the Atlantic County Vet Center.