Rogers Co. Undersheriff Named Grand Lake Mental Health Center 'Law Enforcement Administrator Of The Year'

The Rogers County Undersheriff is being recognized for the work he does for mental health in the county. 

Undersheriff Jon Sappington has been named the Law Enforcement Administrator of the Year by the Grand Lake Mental Health Center. Grand lake Mental Health Center Chief Operating Officer Josh Cantwell describes Rogers county undersheriff Jon Sappington as tenacious. 

"Jon Sappington has been crucial in helping us develop those partnerships and processes to put those things in place in Rogers County," he said. 

Cantwell says that’s one of the many reasons Sappington was named the Law Enforcement Administrator of the Year. He says Sappington's helped implement different initiatives and programs in the jail, like helping people get the proper treatment, providing crisis intervention, and providing resources for detention officers. 

"What happens is, people, escalate to a point of crisis, and that creates a situation where a disproportionate amount of resources has to be dedicated to those individuals which really puts the other needs of the facility on the back burner," Cantwell said. 

Grand Lake Mental Health Center serves 12 counties in Oklahoma and often partners with law enforcement. Cantwell says Sappington has made sure that people in Rogers county have the services they need. Sappington says they also focus on setting people up for success when they are released, like helping them get job interviews. 

"Our goal here is to provide services sooner and more efficiently so when they do get released they'll have a less likely chance to come back," he said.

Sappington says the county has seen an increase in mental health needs and he's continuing to push the boundaries to provide people with help, to help benefit themselves and the detention officers. 

"Giving them the tools and resources, they need to adequately do their job, this award is a very humbling award, and I'm grateful for the opportunity," he said. 

Sappington says his next goal for the county is starting a Crisis Intervention Team.