LOUDON COUNTY, Tenn. — The Loudon County Sheriff's Office said they were given a $50,000 grant from the state so they could provide better transportation for mentally ill patients.
They said it's called a Mental Health Transportation Grant and was provided by the Tennessee Office of Criminal Justice Programs. They said it is meant to provide better mental health transports for patients.
LCSO said that deputies usually handle taking patients from hospitals to mental health facilities. The grant is meant to allow medical professionals to take patients to mental health facilities instead since they are trained on how to handle patients.
“Our main goal in securing this grant was to not victimize mental health individuals and allow for trained professionals to transport these patients,” said Sheriff Jimmy Davis.