LINCOLN - After offering a safe place for police to take intoxicated people to sober up for nearly 40 years, a nonprofit agency known as The Bridge will no longer contract with local law enforcement agencies for the service.

The decision to not renew the contracts with Lincoln police for "civil protective custody" — once known as detox — was largely due to staffing issues caused by the nursing shortage, a situation that came to a head last fall.

City and county officials, now worried about the impact on county corrections, are searching for an alternative placement for intoxicated people who police believe are a danger to themselves or others, but don't need to be in jail.

The Bridge will maintain its other services, including a voluntary detox program, a respite program, and a 24-bed men's residential treatment program.

A lack of nurses also played a part in the agency's decision to temporarily close the protective custody unit last fall until it could deal with the staffing problems.

Stevenson said it was never The Bridge’s intent to close permanently last fall — and the agency spent $500,000 on promotion, incentives, wage increases, and hiring bonuses in an attempt to address staffing issues.

In the months since that happened, it has had to turn more than 400 people away from the voluntary detox program, she said.

For the full article click HERE