Summit County Sheriff Jaime FitzSimons is pictured in his office at the Summit County Justice Center on Wednesday, March 13, 2024. Andrew Maciejewski/Summit Daily News
Mental Health Colorado announced its list of mental health legislators and advocates of the year, and Summit County Sheriff Jamie FitzSimons was among those recognized.
A news release from the mental health advocacy group stated that FitzSimons has worked to “decriminalize mental health” through the implementation of the Summit County Sheriff’s Office’s System-wide Mental Assessment Response Team and Strategies to Avoid Relapse and Recidivism programs.
SMART responds to mental health-related calls with a law enforcement officer and behavioral health specialist. STARR provides substance use and mental health treatment services in the Summit County Jail.
Vincent Atchity, president and CEO of Mental Health Colorado, said in a quote included in the news release that the group respects and appreciates what all its awardees have done to improve Coloradans’ health.
“Our awardees each year have been leading the way in making essential course corrections to adjust how Colorado and Coloradans apply efforts and resources to yield improved health outcomes and greater efficiencies,” Atchity stated in the release.