Training bill pitched to help police cope with challenges

STATE HOUSE — Arlington Police Chief Fred Ryan said some of his officers were a bit uneasy when the department rolled out a program that would embed a civilian — in this case a public health clinician — on patrol alongside officers.
But after seeing the successes of the Arlington Outreach Initiative, Ryan said his officers are fully on board with the program, and the chief is pushing for a state law to bring a similar program to other police departments.