Warren County Sheriff’s Office Critical Response Unit helps hundreds

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Mental health crises happen every day, even in Bowling Green and Warren County.

To help keep officers on the street and give people adequate care, the Warren County Sheriff’s Office and LifeSkills, Inc. have teamed up to form a new arm of law enforcement and health service.

Since February of 2025, Andrew Stidham, along with other deputies and certified therapist Kelly Thompson, respond to dozens of calls a month, which range from overdoses to threats of suicide.

Thompson said, “Some people, you just talk to them and can handle the situation, but some situations take a little more time and effort. A typical mental health crisis lasts 90 minutes, so the longer you spend with someone, the better the chances of a good resolution.”

Deputy sheriff Stidham said people come to the end of their rope all the time, and at that point, “you have to tie a knot in it and hold on” when asked about the unit’s efforts.

Stidham said, “These things take time, it’s a process. Getting help is a process, even asking for help is a process.”