Moorhead council authorizes $250,000 COPS mental health and wellness grant application for police

Assistant Chief Bill Affelt told the council the department plans to apply for a $250,000 Department of Justice COPS Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act grant covering fiscal years 2027–28 and that no local match is required. "We would hope to, if receiving this grant, make all of those things possible for, not only the Moorhead Police Department, but others in our region," Affelt said, describing counseling programs, peer mentoring, suicide-prevention efforts and stress-reduction services delivered through Trauma Matters.

Affelt said the grant proposal would let active or retired sworn and civilian law enforcement employees within a 100-mile radius in Minnesota and North Dakota receive teletherapy immediately and eventually support local in-person therapists. He cited published statistics to frame the need, saying that on average 184 officers die by suicide each year and that studies show roughly 67% of veteran officers exhibit some PTSD symptoms. Council members asked whether firefighters could be included; Affelt said because this is a DOJ COPS grant it is specific to law enforcement and would not include firefighters under the current program's rules. Council member Heather Niesemeyer moved to authorize submission of the application; Council member Matteson seconded, and the council carried the motion by roll call vote.