Law Enforcement and Mental Health Calls

KIMT News 3's Jessica Bringe is taking a closer look at a co-responder program in our area

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A new executive order from president trump is encouraging best policing practices.

It establishes a database to keep track of officers with excessive use of force complaints.

It also encourages co?

"*responder programs. that's where social workers join police when they respond to nonviolent calls involving mental health, addiction and homeless issues.

Rochester and olmsted county law enforcement already have a program like that in place.

Kimt news three's jessica bringe joins us live now with a closer look.

Xxx katie?

"* the olmsted county sheriff's department and rochester police department have been working together for years to help address mental health crisis during calls.

For the last two years they've embedded a social worker within the departments as part of wider intervention and de?

*- escalation efforts.

The departments are working on models to reduce the need for police intervention with people experiencing a mental health crisis.

So far captain jeff stilwell says the program has been an assest for everyone involved.

Xxx overall it's reducing the number of calls that we send to people in crisis, the number of times we send an officer to people in crisis, and when we get there we've had great success in de?

"* escalation, getting people to the appropritate resources and we intend to continue to build on that.

Olmsted county is also building a mental health crisis center which will provide a safety net to help people in need of behavioral health services... not criminal ones.

Live in rochester jessica bringe kimt news thank you jessica.

During the four?

"*month pilot program seventy?

"* percent of the peope who called olmsted county dispatch to report a mental health crisis were able to remain at home with support from