嘿嘿视频

Police Chief Farrow to Lead NAMI California Board

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Police Chief Joe Farrow talks to students in the 嘿嘿视频 Welcome Center in 2018.
嘿嘿视频 Police Chief Joe Farrow will lead the board of directors for the California branch of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, or NAMI. (Karin Higgins/嘿嘿视频)

嘿嘿视频 Police Chief Joseph Farrow begins a three-year term as president of the board of directors of the California branch of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, or NAMI, on July 1. The organization provides advocacy, education, support and public awareness so that all those affected by mental illness can lead quality lives of dignity and respect without fear of discrimination and stigma. 

鈥淥ur role is to be a voice for victims, family members and practitioners working in mental illness,鈥 Farrow said. 鈥淚鈥檓 surrounded by a tremendous amount of talent on the board.鈥

Farrow was originally elected to the board, which is elected by NAMI California members, in 2018 and currently serves as vice president.

鈥淭he intersection with law enforcement and mental illness is a critical issue,鈥 said Jessica Cruz, CEO of NAMI California. 鈥淛oe Farrow has brought deep experience, willingness to learn and his visionary leadership to the board. We have been partners in reimagining our crisis system for many years. I鈥檓 looking forward to our continued work together.鈥

Logo for NAMI California: National Alliance on Mental Illness

With affiliates in every county, NAMI California engages in advocacy and education programs; provides grants and training for practitioners and first responders; and provides resources such as family support groups to those directly affected by mental illness.

As one of the first law enforcement officers on the board, Farrow hopes to promote better ways to deal with people in crisis. Police officers are often the first responders to people in crisis, but their options are limited to making an arrest or taking someone to an emergency room.

鈥淲e need a better, more humanistic approach,鈥 he said. 鈥淓very police chief in the country knows that this is a significant issue.鈥

As chief of police at 嘿嘿视频, Farrow has introduced NAMI鈥檚 Critical Incident Training for all the officers in the department. Officers respond to students needing assistance two to three times a week, he said. 嘿嘿视频 is currently developing the , led by the 嘿嘿视频 Fire Department with police and partners across campus, to provide a mobile non-emergency response, including mental health services, to students.

鈥淛oe鈥檚 deep commitment to destigmatizing mental illness and ensuring appropriate crisis intervention is reflected in his work to make 嘿嘿视频 a national leader in campus safety,鈥 said Chancellor Gary S. May. 鈥淗e is the perfect choice to lead these efforts and move NAMI鈥檚 mission forward.鈥

As CHP commissioner, Farrow worked on legislation that set minimum training requirements on mental health for police recruits and field officers.

Like many Americans, Farrow has a close relative with acute mental illness. In 2014, while he was serving as commissioner of the CHP, he decided to go public about that connection, joining NAMI California.

鈥淚 worry about them,鈥 he said. 鈥淢any people have family members with mental illness, and we have to get rid of the stigma around it and deal with it just like any other illness. That鈥檚 why we鈥檙e all involved.鈥    

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Media Resources

  • Andy Fell, News and Media Relations, 530-304-8888, ahfell@ucdavis.edu

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