Law enforcement agencies across the United States are increasingly recognized as crucial first responders in mental health crises. Innovative police departments and sheriff’s offices are emerging as vital Learning Sites, developing and implementing groundbreaking programs to better serve individuals experiencing mental health challenges. These learning sites offer invaluable models for communities nationwide, demonstrating effective strategies that prioritize care, de-escalation, and connection to vital services over traditional enforcement approaches. This article highlights key examples of these learning sites, showcasing their diverse approaches and impactful initiatives in the field of law enforcement and mental health.
From bustling metropolitan areas to expansive rural counties, these learning sites are adapting their strategies to meet the unique needs of their populations. A prime example is the Tucson, AZ, Police Department. Serving a large population, their Mental Health Support Team (MHST) exemplifies a co-responder model, pairing officers with mental health clinicians. This integrated approach extends to crisis mobile teams and a crisis response center, ensuring citizens are seamlessly connected to local support services. Further north in Arizona, the Yavapai County, AZ, Sheriff’s Office addresses the challenge of a vast, 8,000 square mile county through strategic partnerships. The Yavapai Justice & Mental Health Coalition collaborates with healthcare providers to guarantee crisis response teams can reach any call within 30 minutes. Moreover, their commitment extends to the jail system, where all corrections officers receive comprehensive Crisis Intervention Training and Mental Health First Aid.
California’s Los Angeles, CA, Police Department addresses the needs of a massive urban population with a multifaceted Mental Evaluation Unit. This unit operates a 24-hour triage line, deploys co-responder teams, and provides follow-up case management. Demonstrating a deep organizational commitment, all LAPD officers undergo 40 hours of Mental Health Intervention Training, and mental health professionals are embedded within the department itself. Similarly, the Denver, CO, Police Department implements a co-response team and an outreach case coordination program. Denver also supports the community-led Support Team Assisted Response (STAR) program, a pioneering initiative that dispatches civilian responders to low-level mental health calls, diverting these situations from traditional law enforcement intervention.
Florida showcases diverse approaches within its learning sites. The Miami-Dade County, FL, Police Department, serving a large and diverse community, operates a co-responder unit and a specialized threat management section focused on individuals placed on psychiatric holds. They leverage data collection through their DACOTA program to continuously refine service delivery. Their partnership with Thriving Mind ensures ongoing case management for individuals interacting with their specialty units. In a different context, the University of Florida, FL, Police Department highlights the importance of mental health support within educational institutions. Serving a large campus community, they prioritize intensive crisis intervention and suicide prevention training to equip officers to handle mental health calls effectively within the university environment.
Moving to the Midwest, the Wichita, KS, Police Department stands out as a learning site with its award-winning Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) and Integrated Care Team (co-responder unit). Their collaboration with COMCARE behavioral health extends to operating a mobile crisis team. Furthermore, embedded community support specialists within the WPD actively connect individuals to essential health services. In Maine, the Portland, ME, Police Department exemplifies proactive integration of mental health expertise. They embed mental health professionals directly within the agency, supported by master’s level students. Portland operates a co-responder model and is currently piloting a civilian-led response team, pushing the boundaries of alternative crisis response strategies.
Massachusetts’ Arlington, MA, Police Department demonstrates a commitment to comprehensive community mental health support. They embed a mental health clinician within the department and operate a suite of innovative programs, including a Jail Diversion Program, Hoarding Response Team, Elder Abuse Prevention Task Force, and the Arlington Opiate Outreach Initiative. Tennessee’s Madison County, TN, Sheriff’s Office exemplifies inter-agency collaboration to maximize impact. As part of a larger collaborative network, they operate a pre-trial diversion program, connect individuals in crisis to a 24/7 crisis stabilization unit, and manage all mental health transports within their area.
Texas presents a range of learning sites addressing diverse urban and county needs. The Bexar County, TX, Sheriff’s Department utilizes Specialized Multidisciplinary Alternative Response Teams (SMART). These teams consist of both sworn officers and civilian professionals (EMT and clinician) working in tandem to respond to crisis calls. The Harris County, TX, Sheriff’s Department operates mobile crisis teams, co-responder units, and homeless outreach teams. Their innovative Clinician and Officer Remote Evaluation (CORE) program enables officers to connect remotely with Master’s-level clinicians for real-time evaluations. The Houston, TX, Police Department, serving a major metropolitan center, has CIT-trained officers, co-responder and homeless outreach teams, and the Chronic Consumer Stabilization Initiative. Through a partnership with the Harris Center, they embed mental health clinicians within the city’s dispatch center to operate the Crisis Call Diversion (CCD) program, diverting mental health calls from traditional police response.
Utah’s Salt Lake City, UT, Police Department centralizes its mental health initiatives within the Community Connection Center. This center houses their crisis intervention team, homeless outreach team, and Community Connections Team (CCT). The CCT embodies a collaborative approach, integrating case managers, therapists, and law enforcement to address mental health calls holistically. Finally, the Madison, WI, Police Department showcases a deep organizational commitment to mental health. They employ a full-time mental health team comprising trained mental health liaison officers and civilian crisis workers. Madison PD prioritizes robust officer training and employs a behavioral health data analyst to continuously improve service delivery and outcomes.
These learning sites across the US demonstrate a paradigm shift in law enforcement’s approach to mental health. By prioritizing collaboration, specialized training, and community partnerships, they are creating more effective and compassionate responses to mental health crises. The diverse strategies implemented by these learning sites provide a rich resource for other agencies seeking to improve their own mental health crisis response systems, ultimately fostering safer and more supportive communities.
