Perhaps no phrase is more closely associated with law enforcement than “protect and serve.” It is more than a slogan — it is the guiding principle behind every decision officers make and every action they take on a daily basis.
After decades of work to keep Central Ohio safe, I can think of no better way to “protect and serve” than to support the security of mental health and addiction treatment in our community with a “yes” vote for the levy request from the Delaware-Morrow Mental Health and Recovery Services Board.
Throughout my time as the Delaware County Sheriff, I witnessed firsthand the devastating consequences of untreated mental illness and addiction. Too often, individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis found themselves interacting with law enforcement when what the person truly needed was crisis intervention, treatment, or counseling.
Without those services, residents can become caught in a costly and heartbreaking cycle of repeated emergency room visits and involvement with the criminal justice system.
That revolving door benefits no one. Not the individual or their family, not law enforcement, and not taxpayers. The research is very clear – local treatment access saves lives and saves taxpayers money in the long run.
The good news is that we know what works. When behavioral health services are available close to home, people receive help sooner, crises are de-escalated before they become emergencies, and more individuals find long-term recovery. That reduces pressure on law enforcement, jails, emergency medical services, hospitals, and courts while making our communities safer.
During my time as Sheriff, I worked closely with the Delaware-Morrow Mental Health and Recovery Services Board, the Board’s staff, and the network of local provider agencies that they fund because we all shared the same goal: helping individuals and families get the right care at the right time. We collaborated on Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT) Training for officers, community-based referrals for care, reentry initiatives and behavioral health services in our jail. These partnerships continue to make a real difference for countless residents and strengthen public safety throughout Delaware and Morrow Counties.
The levy serves as the foundation of our local behavioral health safety net. It funds crisis response, suicide prevention efforts, youth prevention programs, addiction treatment, recovery supports, and partnerships with community providers that serve more than 25,000 residents across both counties each year. These are services that our friends, neighbors, coworkers, and family members rely on. These supports help individuals recover and remain in the workforce, giving them a chance at a stable life and the ability to contribute back to the system that will help the next residents who need it.
The Board is asking voters for a renewal of the existing levy along with a modest 0.5-mill increase. As a homeowner I understand the heartburn associated with property taxes, but this is as sound and wise of an investment as we will find on any ballot.
If approved, the 0.5-mill increase would cost the average Delaware County homeowner an additional $6.30 a month. In Morrow County, it’s $3.15 a month. For that modest increase, residents can ensure the health and stability of our local behavioral health safety net— funding crisis response, prevention programs, treatment and recovery supports, and partnerships with local provider agencies that serve more than 25,000 residents across Delaware and Morrow Counties.
Public safety extends far beyond the work of police officers and sheriff’s deputies. It includes ensuring that families facing mental health or substance use challenges have somewhere to turn before a crisis becomes a tragedy. Supporting the Delaware-Morrow Mental Health and Recovery Services Board’s levy is one of the most effective ways we can “protect and serve” our community.
I hope you will join me in voting “Yes” for the mental health and recovery levy on November 3.
Sincerely,
Russell Martin
Retired Delaware County Sheriff
