January 2026
This article was posted by the Clinton Item on JANUARY 1, 2026
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By Jan Gottesman
Item Editor
LANCASTER – A new tool is available to the Lancaster Police Department, but it is not a radio, or weapon, or vehicle.
It is a person.
Vanessa Rivera is now available to help the Lancaster and Lunenburg departments with calls to help residents needing help, not handcuffs.
“We cannot arrest our problems,” Lancaster Police Chief Everett Moody said to the Select Board Dec. 1, explaining the benefit of having a mental health clinician supporting officers.
The plan is for Rivera to work 24 hours a week with Lancaster, 16 hours a week with Lunenburg, but if there is a crisis, she can respond to the other community as needed.
“Anyone reading the police logs understands how important this position is to us,” Moody told the Select Board.
“The police chiefs from both towns will be closely tracking this program to measure its effectiveness, which will guide future decisions on whether to continue with this type of program,” Lancaster Town Administrator John Woodsmall wrote in his report to the board, noting during the meeting that other communities that have received this grant have gotten extensions to continue the program for more than a year.
Working as a partner
“My role as a co-response clinician embedded within the department is to partner with law enforcement and/or emergency responders to provide on-scene mental health assessment, crisis intervention and de-escalation during behavioral health–related calls,” Rivera said.
“The primary goal of this role is to promote safety, reduce trauma and connect individuals with appropriate mental health services, while helping to minimize unnecessary arrests or hospitalizations,” she added.
Over the past several years, the Lancaster and Lunenburg Police Departments have worked collaboratively to secure a Department of Mental Health (DMH) grant to support a co-response clinician, according to a police department social media post.
“This position is fully funded through DMH and allows both departments to partner with a dedicated mental health clinician to better support community members in need. Vanessa will work full-time with the Lancaster and Lunenburg Police Departments, riding alongside officers on a daily basis to provide a wide range of services,” according to the post.
Rivera hopes to bring value to the community through her role.
“In collaboration with the Lancaster Police Department, I am also hoping to implement the Blue Envelope Program, a voluntary initiative designed to support individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder by fostering a safer, more understanding environment during traffic stops,” she said.
The towns contracted through Open Sky for the clinician services.
Rivera began her career as a co-response clinician in 2023 and “brings valuable experience working with high-risk populations across a variety of settings. We are confident her skills, professionalism, and compassion will be a tremendous asset to both departments and the communities we serve,” according to the post.
“I take great pride in the work I have been doing since starting in 2023, and I remain committed to providing the community with a calm, therapeutic response that helps reduce fear and stigma when law enforcement is present,” Rivera said. “I plan to continue serving as a liaison within the community, connecting vulnerable individuals to ongoing support services and helping prevent crises from escalating through follow-up care and collaboration.”
To learn more about the services offered through this program, “stop by either the Lancaster or Lunenburg Police Department. We look forward to continuing to serve and support our community together,” according to the post.
https://www.clintonitem.com/clinician-will-help-police-without-using-handcuffs/