Veterans in crisis topic of Coffee with the Chief

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Maricopa veterans groups are working hand in hand with Honoring/Hiring/Helping Our Heroes of Pinal (HOHP) Mobile Veteran Outreach Center to spread the word about available resources.

HOHP, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and the American Legion will participate in this month’s “Coffee with the Chief” session, which will focus on veterans’ needs.

“Coffee with the Chief” with Police Chief Steve Stahl is scheduled for Feb. 14 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Maricopa Police Department, 39675 W. Civic Center Plaza South.

According to MPD spokesman Ricardo Alvarado, “This event will have information from various groups who collaborate with the police department and respond to Maricopa and other cities within Pinal County for veteran crisis needs.”

VFW Post 12043 Commander Mike Kemery said outreach also includes VFW Charities and “we have our own relief funds for needy veterans.”

But he points out a disparity in the number of veterans said to be living in Maricopa (around 4,000) and the number involved with veterans organizations (less than 400). So getting veterans directed to the appropriate resources can be challenging.

Kemery said the VFW’s directive, especially for its service officer, is to take care of vets, whether they are members or not. He said some veterans don’t want to be involved in organizations “because they’re fed up with the military. But they need help, and we render assistance. It’s vets taking care of vets.”

The spotlight turned on veterans’ needs in the wake of an officer-involved shooting that ended the life of an Iraq War veteran said to be suffering from PTSD. The resources currently available and soon to arrive in Maricopa will be highlighted at the “Coffee with the Chief.”

The event is open to the public.

Stahl will update residents about the MPD, followed by a question-and-answer period. Specifically, though, the event will provide connections to resources for veterans. The event was planned even before a public outpouring for better veterans’ services that came before the city council on Tuesday.

Kemery is on Stahl’s advisory panel. “A lot of people don’t realize that Maricopa is more veteran-friendly than almost any other community,” he said.

The commander credited the city with being acutely aware of its war veterans and said city hall had never denied anything to the vets. He said the city has played an important role in the struggle to get the Veterans Administration to recognize Maricopa and its needs.

“I believe we have the resources to nip this thing,” American Legion Commander Chris Flores told the city council Feb. 3. “The big thing we need right now are volunteers.”

He said sometimes all a vet needs is someone to talk to and they are far more likely to talk to another veteran.

“This is the time for solutions, this is the time for answers,” Flores said. “We need to work together to achieve a common goal.”

"The list of things we are doing is long but there is always more to do," Mayor Christian Price said.