City looking for ways CMPD can better respond to mental health emergencies

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — When someone calls 911 for a mental health crisis, sending a police officer to respond can sometimes escalate a tense situation, instead of calming it down.

For two years now the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has had crisis intervention teams made up of a police officer and a counselor paired together.

PAST COVERAGE: CMPD rolls out new behavioral health team

But now, the city is trying to figure out if some of those calls could be handled without an officer at all.

It’s a concept already up and running in Denver, Colorado.

The @CLTgov is paying almost $600K for research on how to answer some mental health crisis calls without sworn police.

At 6pm, I'll break down the study. Plus, how & when @DenverPolice use this van, EMTs & clinicians instead of officers. @wsoctv pic.twitter.com/fsTRGWF8YV
— Allison Latos (@AllisonWSOC9) May 11, 2021

The research on non-officer teams will cost Charlotte about $600,000 and will be presented to the city this summer.

We should note, CMPD’s crisis team of officers and counselors is already making a positive impact. The department said their data from 2019 shows of the 370 assessments done on people during calls for help, 220 were diverted to places like shelters or treatment instead of a psych hospital or jail.

>>In the video at the top of the page, Channel 9′s Allison Latos speaks with the chief of the Denver Police Department to see if the program is working and breaks down what the city of Charlotte is doing to make sure those having mental emergencies get the care they need.