Boardman Police Stress De-Escalation Amid Regional Mental Health Crisis Response

While a high-profile police response unfolded over 200 miles away in Southeast Portland this week, local law enforcement in Boardman is emphasizing its own, community-focused approach to calls involving individuals in crisis.

Portland Police Bureau’s Special Emergency Reaction Team (SERT) was deployed to an apartment complex after reports of an armed “person in distress.” The incident, which closed streets and drew a significant police presence, highlights the complex challenges officers face when mental health and potential weapons intersect.

Here in Boardman, Police Chief Rick Stokoe says his department handles similar calls with a priority on communication and de-escalation. “Our first goal is always to slow things down, create a safe space for dialogue, and connect the individual with the help they need,” Chief Stokoe stated. “We train continuously in crisis intervention techniques.”

The Morrow County Sheriff’s Office, which often partners with Boardman PD on critical incidents, has also invested in less-lethal tools and maintains protocols that can involve regional mental health professionals when possible. “A call about a person in distress is a call for help, first and foremost,” a sheriff’s office spokesperson noted.

Local officials encourage residents who have a family member or neighbor experiencing a mental health crisis to contact the police non-emergency line, where dispatchers are trained to send appropriate resources. They remind the community that the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is also available 24/7 for free, confidential support.