In what could be considered a textbook example of community policing, a Salt Lake City Police officer’s attentive actions led to assisting a woman in need. According to the Salt Lake City Police Department, Officer Bench discovered a woman in crisis while patrolling near 520 West 400 South. The officer found her lying on the sidewalk, highly confused and mumbling incoherently.
Through conversation and a calm demeanor, Officer Bench was able to assess the situation and determined that the woman required professional care. His response not only diffused the immediate crisis but also potentially set a course for the woman’s long-term recovery by connecting her with the necessary mental health resources. “Officer Bench recognized she needed help,” as per the Salt Lake City Police Department, detailing how he escorted her to the Huntsman Mental Health Institute for care…