Olney PD Faces Issues on Mental Health Calls

A tense standoff involving a suicidal man who allegedly fired a gun inside his home ended without injuries last week, but underscored the ongoing struggle to get adequate mental health care for residents in Olney and across Young County.

Olney Interim Police Chief Autumn Thames said officers responded to 501 Avenue O around 9:30 a.m. after receiving reports that a man had discharged a firearm through a window. When police arrived, they found that the man’s adult son had already wrestled the firearm away from his father. The man then grabbed a knife, which the son also managed to disarm during the confrontation.

Officers remained on the scene for more than six hours, attempting to secure mental health treatment for the man, Chief Thames said. Despite the clear danger presented by the incident, the man was ultimately not admitted to a state mental hospital after telling mental health professionals that the gun was discharged accidentally. He was allowed to remain in his home.

Helen Farabee Centers, the region’s mental health authority, attempted to transfer the man to the state hospital in Wichita Falls, but the facility declined to admit him, stating he did not meet the threshold for being a danger to himself.

The incident highlights long-standing issues with mental health care access in Young County. Former Olney Police Chief Dan Birbeck worked extensively with local leaders and state lawmakers to improve care, lobbying for more resources and faster acceptance of patients into regional facilities.

Chief Birbeck’s efforts culminated in the creation of a mobile mental health crisis team, funded by a $400,000 grant and officially launched earlier this month in Graham under the direction of Young County Sheriff Travis Babcock. The team is tasked with responding to psychiatric emergencies and coordinating ongoing care.

While the new unit represents a major step forward, significant barriers remain — particularly in securing inpatient beds at state hospitals for Olney residents experiencing acute mental health crises.