Two Montgomery County constables and their units were honored by the Texas Association of Counties for community policing programs they implemented.
The TAC is a nonprofit lobbying organization composed of representatives from all Texas counties. Each year, it awards the Best Practices awards for programs that improve efficiency or serve the public, according to its website.
Precinct 1 Constable Philip Cash, who oversees the county’s mental health response unit, was honored for the mental health crisis intervention follow-up program. The program was created in 2021 and has constables performing regular follow-ups with individuals who were detained on a mental health warrant or who have experienced a mental health crisis. Cash received American Rescue Plan Act funds to create the program during fiscal year 2021-22 budget workshops.
During a July 26 Montgomery County Commissioners Court meeting, Cash presented statistics showing 2,395, or 50%, of all mental health calls in the county were follow-ups made through the program.
In a statement from his office to Community Impact Newspaper, Cash said he was “proud” to receive the TAC honor and thanked his deputies, local law enforcement and elected officials for their support.
“Constable Cash is thankful for the partnerships with local area law enforcement who assist his deputies each day along with local hospitals and mental health facilities and knows this program would not be successful without the support of local elected officials. Constable Cash is honored to be a part of such a devoted team of deputies,” the statement said.
Precinct 4 Constable Kenneth “Rowdy” Hayden was honored for his Constable 180 program, in which individuals who are suffering from addiction disorders in custody are given access to resources, and then share their stories in videos to inspire others. Hayden announced the program in a December video on his Facebook page.
According to statistics Hayden presented to county commissioners during Aug. 3 budget workshops, Precinct 4 recorded 318 driving while intoxicated arrests during the 2021-22 fiscal year.
Hayden received a similar award at the Justice of the Peace and Constable Association of Texas Education Conference, according to a July 11 news release from the Pct. 4 office.
"With the JPCA being the largest organization of elected officials in the State of Texas, and with approximately 780 constables across the state; this is a huge honor for Constable Hayden," the announcement said.
