Last week, Sergeant Todd Grager and Police Social Worker (PSW) Grace Mentzer from the Lancaster City Bureau of Police partnered with Dr. Karen Rice, Professor and Department Chair for Diversity and Social Justice at Millersville University, and Kim McDevitt, Executive Director of Mental Health America of Lancaster, to present at the 2024 Municipal Leadership Summit which focused on Building Safe, Resilient Communities.
The group highlighted the benefits of integrating social work interns into police departments to appointed officials from the Pennsylvania Municipal League, the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Commissioners, and the Pennsylvania Career Fire Chiefs Association who were all in attendance.
Sgt. Grager and PSW Mentzer shared insights into Lancaster City’s PSW program, which has successfully operated for the past five years. They highlighted how the program fosters collaboration between law enforcement and social services to address the complex needs of the community. By working together, they have been able to connect individuals with critical resources and offer long-term solutions beyond immediate policing. Their presentation demonstrated the positive, lasting impact this partnership has had on both public safety and community well-being.
