The University of Alabama’s police department photographed on Jan. 13, 2026.
The Tuscaloosa Police Department was recognized at the Alabama Chiefs of Police Conference by VitAL on March 12 for leadership on training to identify mental health needs.
VitAL is a statewide initiative with a goal to “help boost the well-being of Alabamians through our network of providers and partnerships,” partnered with The University and Alabama state agencies with resources of assistance in the workforce.
TPD received the Excellence in Mental Health Award through VitAL. The award honors departments that show dedication to “Mental Health First Aid Training” and “response to mental health-related calls.”
“I’ve seen where students come up and say they don’t know who to go to or reach out to and what’s going to happen to them,” said Sawyer May, president of Active Minds, a mental health awareness organization.
May said he applauds Tuscaloosa’s Police Department on their work in helping out the community, calling it a vital resource for students to reach out as it breaks huge barriers.
TPD had trained 300 personnel in 2022 through 16 Mental Health First Aid sessions to identify mental health challenges, including patrol officers, dispatchers, investigators and other members.
Drake Bennett, treasurer of Student Tide Against Suicide, said TPD’s recognition by VitAL reflects the community’s commitment to mental health and to support people who reach out, and it reassures students that officers are trained.
“It shows that reaching out to UAPD for support can be life-saving and helpful. Any UA student can call the UAPD number at (205) 348-5454 and speak to a counselor after the Counseling Center’s closed for the day,” Bennett said. “All you need to say is ‘I am a student at the University, and I need to speak to the on-call counselor.’”