Addiction Response Tactics: Tools for the Front Line-Deflection in Action: A Commander's Perspective

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Commander Jason Bernards of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office describes how he moved from skepticism to support for the county’s LEAD (Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion) program. Initially, he believed arrest and jail were the best response to people who use drugs, despite seeing the same individuals repeatedly cycle through arrest, release, and missed court dates.<br /><br />His perspective changed after working with peer navigators—people with lived experience—and seeing participants rebuild their lives, including one woman who regained custody of her children after ten years. Bernards emphasizes that no single response fits everyone: jail, treatment, and deflection should all remain options, chosen according to individual needs. Peer navigators can build trust and identify appropriate services more effectively than officers alone.<br /><br />Marion County’s program operates around the clock, responds to referrals from law enforcement and community members, and connects participants to services such as housing, employment, and identification. Officers receive follow-up on participants’ progress, which has helped strengthen staff buy-in. Bernards says the program has reduced repeat contact for some people, improved community safety, and offered officers another way to help.<br /><br />His advice to skeptical agencies is to start small, secure key partners’ support, and give deflection a chance. He views it as an important public-safety tool, while stressing that its success depends on adequate funding and available community services.

Keywords

LEAD program

Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion

Marion County Sheriff’s Office

peer navigators

deflection

drug diversion

public safety