HARTFORD, Vt. (WCAX) – A new police liaison in the Upper Valley is helping to connect people to the services and the help they need.
Hartford Police Lieutenants Will Furnari and Shea Harris were getting caught up on a current case on Wednesday. But Harris doesn’t wear a badge or carry a gun. She’s Hartford PD’s new police liaison.
“There is a lot of frustration when we arrest the same people over and over when we know the driving force is substance use. We know the driving force is undiagnosed or under-treated mental health,” Furnari explained.
Harris accompanies officers on calls, especially those involving mental health issues or substance use.
“A mental health response to a mental health crisis, not a police response,” Furnari said.
The police liaison is a partnership with Health Care and Rehabilitation Services of Southeastern Vermont. It’s designed to get people the help they need when they need it, whether they are homeless or struggling with addiction.
“Dig in a little bit, do a little case management, do a little crisis work, do some supportive counseling, etc, whatever is needed,” said HCRS’ Knowles Wentworth.
Police liaisons are now in ten departments throughout Windsor and Windham Counties. Officers themselves also see the benefit.
“When we can debrief with them afterwards and support their work, that goes a long way,” Wentworth said.
It’s a softer approach to policing, highlighting resources rather than punishment.
“And so the hope is we can help them to break the cycle of their substance use, break the cycle of their un-housed status, to break the cycle of their under-treated or untreated mental health,” Furnari said.
The liaison also frees officers up to focus on more violent crimes and the people who are bringing drugs into the community.
Copyright 2026 WCAX. All rights reserved.