Harrison police are responding to more mental health crises than ever before.

Since 2012, the number of calls dealing with noncompliant people has increased more than 500%, Chief Brian Turack said.

Officers responded to 16 such calls in 2012 and 98 in 2023.

“It’s not all mental health; it’s anywhere we need to mitigate a difficult situation,” he said.

His department now has help.

With a $5,000 grant from Walmart, Turack secured five “less-lethal” weapons to help officers deter or de-escalate situations.

The refurbished shotguns shoot compressed beanbags. To avoid any confusion, the stock and grips are bright orange and the shell casings are clear. Turack said it is immediately apparent which gun is which type.

“It’s another tool in their belt,” Turack said.

Harrison Walmart manager Tony Soltis said he is given a corporate allotment of community grants to distribute each year. He receives requests from organizations across the region but believes the money should help in “our own backyard.”

“To put it in the hands of local police, who are doing good for the community, is money well spent,” Soltis said.

Turack’s 13 officers are undergoing training and certification to use the converted shotguns. They should be in use by mid-July.

The grant covered training and the special rounds.

Turack said the less-lethal weapons will make an impact for local departments: The next closest force with similar shotguns is Springdale.

In June 2024, Harrison police used rubber bullets and tear gas to remove a 47-year-old man barricaded for 13 hours in a home in the township’s Natrona section.

The situation was described as a mental health crisis.

Harrison officers were assisted by Allegheny County SWAT and other agencies. They spent 13 hours negotiating with a man who had several knives and had barricaded himself in a bedroom.

Police used bean bag rounds during the incident that were brought by another department.

“Having them in the northern end of the Valley will be huge for us,” Turack said.

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