A new program in Los Angeles is deploying teams of clinicians — not police officers — to respond to incidents involving people in mental health crisis, city leaders announced Wednesday.
Two-person teams that fall under the Police Department’s Mental Evaluation Unit are made up of an LAPD officer and a clinician from the county Department of Mental Health. The teams respond to mental-health related calls along with patrol officers whenever possible.
When Angelenos face a situation that requires calling 911 — such as encountering a person in the throes of a mental health crisis — the first responders are usually firefighters or armed police officers.
Today on AirTalk, LA sends out civilian response teams to certain 911 calls as part of a pilot program; a new report suggests that the Salton Sea is not as polluting as it seems; CA voters are pushing back on redistricting efforts; will philanthropy be able to save public media?; Pasadena’s Humane Society has a new game plan and TV Talk.
Effective April 1st, all of City Council District 1 has access to unarmed crisis response teams, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Now, when you dial 911, trained response teams can be deployed as an alternative to law enforcement to respond to non-urgent incidents involving people experiencing homelessness. These teams offer trauma-informed care and support for people in crisis, and are equipped with experienced mental health professionals and outreach teams for follow up engagement and case management.
LOS ANGELES — More than 300 calls for service related to mental health crises have been diverted from LAPD officers to specialized clinicians and other non-law enforcement personnel as part of a new unarmed response pilot program, city officials announced Wednesday.
