Mayor Andrew J. Ginther today joined city and community leaders to highlight the successful first year of the Right Response Unit (RRU), which imbeds social workers and clinicians in 9-1-1 dispatch to provide holistic emergency responses to individuals in crisis. By connecting callers with the right resources within the right amount of time, RRU expands access to mental health support and social services while enabling police to focus more of their time on fighting violent crime.
“One of the lessons we’ve taken to heart in recent years is that we can’t simply police our way beyond the challenges we are facing,” said Mayor Ginther. “This moment requires a more holistic approach that also addresses the root causes of violence and hardship. The Right Response Unit is central to this comprehensive strategy and is making great strides in supporting our most vulnerable residents and improving community safety.”
During its first year of implementation, the Right Response Unit triaged nearly 1,300 calls originally received by 9-1-1 dispatch. Approximately one-third of calls for service did not require any police response, saving officers more than 500 hours. Zero calls involved the use of force. Additionally:
- Over 25% of callers were connected to a local mental health provider.
- Only 12 calls resulted in an arrest. Those arrests were unrelated to mental health crisis.
- 9-1-1 dispatchers are now better equipped to de-escalate and communicate with residents in crisis, improving their ability to manage their own occupational stress.
Original source can be found here.
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