The uncomfortable convergence between mental illness and the criminal justice system

Friday, DECEMBER 6

11:45 am - 1:00 pm
in-person and virtual event
St. Paul's United Methodist Church
1340 3rd Ave SE, CEDAR RAPIDS

Presenter: Sheriff Tony Thompson, Black Hawk County Sheriff's Office

If someone had told Sheriff Tony Thompson in 2008 that the single most time-consuming issue facing him as one of the newest of America’s 3,081 sheriffs would be mental health, he would have laughed. He was the SWAT team leader, a drug education officer on patrol, and a street-level narcotics interdiction officer for a larger (by Iowa standards) sheriff’s office. But these days, mental illness and how it intersects with Sheriff Thompson’s duties as one of Iowa’s 99 elected sheriffs influences his daily obligations.

He's watched Iowa legislators pass gun bills in just one session that no one really wanted. He's also seen attempts in the last 20 years to reform mental health delivery systems that nearly every state citizen recognized as necessary, but none have been successful. How can we remedy that?

Join us in December as Sheriff Thompson shares his experiences and envisions Iowa’s future with proper mental health care for all. His goal is to simply champion the message that change must happen. And we can all be those champions of change.

There are three ways to attend Crossroads. Registration is required for all three:

• Attend in person (with lunch) by clicking here. Three boxed lunch options are available: turkey, ham, and vegetarian; boxed lunches are $15 each (new cost). You must pre-order and pay for your lunch by 12:00 PM on Tuesday, December 3. Late orders or walk-in requests for lunch will not be available.
• Attend in person (no lunch) by clicking here. There is no cost for this option, but we do need your RSVP to ensure we have enough seating.
• Watch via YouTube by clicking here. This virtual presentation will be livestreamed on our YouTube channel.

ABOUT OUR PRESENTER | Sheriff Tony Thompson took office January 1, 2009; this will be his last term in office. He joined the US Army as a military police officer in December of 1988 and retired from the Iowa Army National Guard with just over 21 years following his election as sheriff. Sheriff Thompson’s career with the Black Hawk County Sheriff's Office began in March of 1994 and he has worked in the Jail, Special Services, and Patrol Divisions. Before taking command as sheriff, his prior assignments include Drug Education Officer, Community Services Coordinator, Computer Crimes Investigator, Patrol Officer, Public Information Officer, and SWAT Team leader.

Known statewide for his mental health advocacy and diversion efforts from the criminal justice system, Sheriff Thompson served on the Complex Mental Health Needs Subcommittee for the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services and helped frame the mental health redesign legislation in 2012. In addition, he has served on the state’s Public Safety Advisory Board, Iowa’s Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning Advisory Council. Sheriff Thompson is the immediate past state president of the Iowa State Sheriffs’ and Deputies’ Association and continues to serve on several local boards, committees, and councils.

Sheriff Thompson lives with his family — wife, Janel, and sons Brady and Bryce — on a hobby farm in rural Cedar Falls.

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Intersections is a monthly gathering of the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa in Cedar Rapids.‍