LISBON — Columbiana County Sheriff’s Office deputies recently completed Veterans in Crisis training and received packed backpacks they can hand out to veterans they may come across who need a hand.

Capt. Ryan Pike of the sheriff’s office recently talked about the training and said the backpacks are filled with personal care items, such as shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, soap, nail trimmer, comb, washcloths and other items. Also included is literature about Veterans Affairs and help available.

“Some of these people have nothing,” Sgt. Kevin Shulas said.

Shulas sometimes has to handle evictions, so he’s seen the need for something like this.

Pike said during a recent active shooting training with Veterans Affairs personnel at the VA clinic in Calcutta, he met with the instructor and was told about the Veterans in Crisis program.

Pike saw an opportunity for deputies and for veterans in need.

Deputies are required to complete 24 hours of continuing professional training (CPT) every year. This training counts for two hours of CPT. Not all deputies could be there, so there will be another Veterans in Crisis training session in February and one in the summer, with the goal of getting all deputies trained in that area.

Pike said some of the goals were not to paint a negative picture of veterans, to realize a vast majority of veterans are law abiding, to encourage officers not to become cynical or jaded and to learn that “the subject dictates the outcome of any law enforcement interaction.”

The sheriff’s office has at least six veterans who are deputies or detectives, with Pike commenting that’s 20% of the department.

A total of 50 filled backpacks were provided to the sheriff’s office.