Mental health clinicians will start answering some 911 calls in Chicago — instead of cops
The “alternative response” programs are being launched amid continuing debate over the role of police after the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.
By David Struett and Tom Schuba Jul 13, 2021, 6:00pm CDT
For the first time in Chicago, some 911 calls for mental health emergencies won’t be answered by police officers but by mental health professionals paired with paramedics.
In one pilot program starting this fall, a paramedic will be dispatched with a mental health clinician for “behavioral health calls.” In another, a paramedic will work with a “recovery specialist” on calls involving substance abuse.
Mental health clinicians will be on hand at the 911 center to monitor situations, but questions remain how well these new responders will be able to de-escalate violence that can erupt during such calls.
The “alternative response” programs are being launched amid continuing debate over the role of police after the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer last spring.
Floyd had battled addiction and had previously reported suffering from depression and hearing voices. An officer placed his knee on Floyd’s neck for about nine minutes to restrain him, making it impossible for him to breathe.
Across the country, towns and cities have begun rolling out programs to better respond to mental health crises. Some use specially trained cops, others pair them with mental health professionals and a few localities have removed police from such calls altogether.
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https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2021/7/13/22573899/mental-health-first-responder-police-alternative-response-lightfoot-crisis-response-care-911-cpd
