Police

The grant from the Helmsley Charitable Trust funds Virtual Crisis Care, a new program connecting Wyoming law enforcement officers with licensed mental health professionals in real time.

First responders are more likely to experience mental health conditions than the general public. This week, firefighters, police officers and therapy dogs met at a mental health conference in Casper to address the toll their jobs can take.

This comes a month after Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-WY) announced she was going to hold only virtual town halls. At the time, Hageman said her decision came from incidents at public town halls in Laramie and Wheatland.

In Wyoming, there’s already some guardrails in place to limit involving law enforcement without a caller’s consent.

The Laramie City Council approved the creation of a Police Advisory Board last year. It’s made up of civilians and works to improve the relationship between the community and the local police force. They’ve hit some challenges, but are still optimistic in their goal.

During the past four years, violent crime has been decreasing nationwide, according to the latest data from the FBI. But rates of violent crime are mixed in the Mountain West. Black men are also arrested at higher rates compared to the ratio of Black men in the general population.

Law Enforcement agencies used an excavator to bring the standoff to an end.

The police are allowed to enter your home as long as they believe they have permission — even if they technically don't.

Early last month, the Laramie City Council voted on whether or not they would create a Police Advisory Board. This vote was the culmination of years of debate — debate which saw thousands of Laramie residents taking to the streets, signing petitions, and giving hours of public comment at city council meetings. However, despite all that arguing, the councilors arrived at a unanimous decision. The Police Advisory Board was approved.

How does an underfunded and overworked rural police department help a community feel more supported? Riverton’s new police chief is hoping a Community Service Officer program could help.