SAN ANTONIO – The San Antonio Police Department Mental Health Unit is designed to help those suffering from mental health issues get the treatment they need.
"A lot of times we deal with the four major types of mental illness. That's depression, bipolar, schizophrenia and PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder)," Ofc. Ernie Stevens said.
Stevens and his partner, Joe Smarro, are part of the six-person unit focused on smart justice -- keeping individuals with mental health issues out of jail and getting them into a hospital or treatment center.
Most times, they start their day by cruising up and down the streets. It's never long before their day picks up.
When KSAT-12 joined the officers on patrol, they got a call from a woman worried about the wellbeing of a loved one after finding a letter he left behind.
The letter was filled with personal documents and a note that said, "I love you. I know you will all be sad. Don't be, I'm not hurting."
The officers, knowing they may not have much time, rushed to the man's home. But he was nowhere to be found.
Then they got a tip that he was at a nearby hotel.
Fearing the worst, they called for backup and forced their way in. The man, only identified as Nick, was inside with a gun.
"You alright man? I know we startled you, but when you didn't say anything, I legit thought you killed yourself," said Smarro, as he spoke to Nick.
Nick was evaluated and then taken to a nearby hospital. He was treated and then assessed before being released.
"They are not in trouble, they didn't do anything wrong. They are in a mental health crisis and we really feel compassion for them, compassion that they can be a danger to themselves or to somebody else," Stevens said.