Last year the Mental Health America of Eastern Missouri awarded Maplewood Police Officer Levonston Hall the John J. McAtee Award, which recognizes officers who have shown compassion, concern and understanding when interacting with a person who has mental illness. It’s time for this year’s nominations.
The award has been given since 1987 to a police department, sheriff’s office, National Park Service, campus police department or a Missouri State Trooper assigned to or located in the City of St. Louis or the counties of St. Louis, St. Charles, Lincoln, Warren, Jefferson or Franklin
From last year’s post in 40 South, Officer Hall was dispatched to the 7200 block of Anna Avenue on Dec. 30, 2016 on a report of a distraught person threatening to kill himself with a knife. When Hall arrived he saw a man sitting on the curb who appeared distressed and incoherent.
Hall determined the man was a military veteran and established rapport with him; Hall is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. After gaining the the man’s trust, he was able to remove the knife from his hand. He called an ambulance, which took the man to a hospital for psychiatric evaluation and treatment.
Read the latest edition of Street Talk here https://t.co/nvbPOCQSMi & nominate officers for the 2018 McAtee Awards. @CreveCoeurPD @Ellisville_PD @MaplewoodMOPD @StPetersMOPD pic.twitter.com/aHKMoTPm1Z
— Mental Health STL (@MentalHealthSTL) March 27, 2018
This is a bit off topic, but I am hoping that residents who read this article will have some insights to share. Has anyone else been receiving the frequent fundraising calls (that seem to be from outside this area, but I can’t tell for sure) for the “local police fund”? I am suspicious because they never mention the word “Maplewood,” only “local.” I do support our local officers — the Maplewood police are soooo nice — but I have my doubts about these callers. Anyone have any information?