Posted: February 18, 2021
Attorney General Ashley Moody came to the Punta Gorda Public Safety Complex this morning to present Captain Nahra and the members of the Veteran Crisis Assistance Team (VCAT) including Officer Brandon Meddaugh, Officer Fiorino, Detective Delgado, Officer Gray, and Officer Vetri, with the Attorney General’s Back the Blue Award.
The Back the Blue campaign highlights law enforcement officers, citizens, and organizations taking extraordinary steps to forge positive relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve.
The VCAT was started in 2020 with the purpose of helping to ensure that the Punta Gorda Police Department has the ability to effectively handle situations involving military veterans experiencing mental health crisis or who are in need of assistance. The VCAT is made up of Punta Gorda law enforcement officers who have served, or are currently serving, in a branch of the United States military.
The members of the VCAT have received specialized training in de-escalating situations involving military veterans in crisis. They also work closely with community organizations to assist veterans in receiving needed services and conduct follow-up to help veterans avoid further crisis.
Chief Pam Davis said, “We are honored that Attorney General Moody came to Punta Gorda to recognize the great work being done by our men and women. We are very proud of what the VCAT has already accomplished for our veterans and look forward to the work they will do going forward.”