Gahanna’s community liaison officers expand mental-health outreach; open house set for Dec. 8

Mayor Laurie Jadwine interviewed Officer Blair Thomas about the Gahanna Division of Police’s Community Liaison Officer program, which Thomas says focuses on follow-up to mental-health calls and quality-of-life concerns that require more time and outreach than patrol staffing typically allows.

Officer Blair Thomas, who has served with Gahanna for 17 years and has been in the CLO role about one year, described the position as a bridge between the police department and residents: "Don't wait," Thomas said, urging family members and friends to raise concerns early when they notice behavior or mood changes. Thomas said CLOs can respond to mental-health incidents when available, help facilitate transport to inpatient care if needed, and perform follow-up check-ins with families to improve future responses.

Thomas outlined training that supports the work: all Gahanna officers receive Crisis Intervention Training within their first year, some officers have completed Columbus Police dialogue-team training, and the department also runs in-house sessions on responding to mental-health situations and officer well-being. She also said CLOs lead community education, including about 16 civilian active-shooter classes this year and holiday-safety presentations.

The podcast announced a mental-health open house scheduled for Dec. 8 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Columbus Metropolitan Library, Gahanna branch on Granville Street. Thomas said the event will invite service providers to set up informational tables and create a low-pressure environment where residents can learn about resources; the format used in a May event included private rooms for confidential conversations. For nonemergency assistance or information about CLO services, Thomas directed listeners to call the Gahanna Police nonemergency number at 614-342-4240 and ask for Officer Anne Joden or Officer Blair Thomas.

Mayor Jadwine and Thomas said the department has seen more residents seeking mental-health help in recent years — which they attributed to greater public awareness and discussion of mental health as well as an apparent rise in anxiety-related crises — and they plan to continue mental-health events next year, tailoring some to youth and others to adults. Thomas said community events take substantial planning and the department is mindful of schedule and budget constraints.

The conversation also touched on the personal side of the work: Thomas described personal decompression routines and family activities that help manage job stress, and she said one of the most rewarding aspects of the CLO role is the ability to follow up and receive direct positive feedback from residents whose situations improved after outreach.

The mayor closed by thanking Thomas and noting community appreciation for the CLO program; the podcast provided the Dec. 8 event date and the police nonemergency contact for residents seeking resources.