DENVER (KDVR) — Two U.S. legislators for Colorado introduced a bill this month aimed at funding partnerships between law enforcement and mental or behavioral health providers, such as Denver’s STAR program or Grand Junction’s co-responder program.
According to information published by the office of Rep. Jason Crow, a Democrat representing Colorado’s 6th Congressional District, the legislation would create a way for health professionals, case managers and outreach teams to respond and engage with people experiencing crises related to mental health, poverty, homelessness or substance use disorders.
“Colorado has proven that community policing improves public safety and saves tax dollars by meeting mental health and drug-related emergencies with resource-based responses,” Sen. Michael Bennet, a Democrat who also introduced the bill Monday, said in a release. “Law enforcement should focus on violent crime while trained health and social service professionals de-escalate emergencies and connect individuals with services they need. This legislation draws on Colorado’s leadership and expands the successes of community policing nationwide.”
The goal is to have the right people on hand to de-escalate challenging situations.
“We’ve seen community policing work in Colorado, and I’m glad to partner with Senator Bennet to bring this public safety model to the rest of the nation,” said Crow in a release from his office. “Our bill will help ensure law enforcement has the resources to protect our communities and connect people in need with local mental health and other life-saving services.”
Co-responder programs in Colorado
According to the U.S. legislators, Denver’s Support Team Assisted Response program, or STAR, has responded to almost 7,500 calls for service since the program began in June 2020 through December last year. Grand Junction’s co-responder unit has responded to over 3,200 calls, including 1,036 behavioral health calls in 2023 alone.
Data gathered in 2023 by The Associated Press showed at least 14 of the most populous U.S. cities have mental health crisis response programs. The Denver STAR program has often been cited as a national model, and its funding totaled over $7 million between 2021 and 2023.
Denver’s STAR teams use a range of items, from medical gear and blankets to Cheez-Its. The Associated Press reported in 2023 of one recent instance when the STAR team spent three hours — more time than police could likely have spent — with a Denver newcomer who was living on the streets. The team helped him get a Colorado ID voucher, groceries, and medications and took him to a shelter.
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Keys hang on a wall at an ambulance bay in Denver on Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022. The city’s STAR program uses clinicians and EMTs or paramedics to respond to nonviolent mental health crises, instead of police. Data gathered by The Associated Press show at least 14 of the 20 most populous U.S. cities are hosting or starting such programs, sometimes called civilian, alternative or non-police response teams. They span from New York and Los Angeles to Columbus, Ohio, and Houston, and boast annual budgets that together topped $123 million as of June 2023, the AP found. (AP Photo/Thomas Peipert) -
Leigh Foster, who supervises paramedics in Denver’s alternative policing program, works at an ambulance bay in the city on Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022. The STAR program uses clinicians and EMTs or paramedics to respond to nonviolent mental health crises, instead of police. Data gathered by The Associated Press show at least 14 of the 20 most populous U.S. cities are hosting or starting such programs, sometimes called civilian, alternative or non-police response teams. They span from New York and Los Angeles to Columbus, Ohio, and Houston, and boast annual budgets that together topped $123 million as of June 2023, the AP found. (AP Photo/Thomas Peipert) -
A woman walks past an ambulance bay as a STAR van exits in Denver on Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022. The STAR program uses clinicians and EMTs or paramedics to respond to nonviolent mental health crises, instead of police. Data gathered by The Associated Press show at least 14 of the 20 most populous U.S. cities are hosting or starting such programs, sometimes called civilian, alternative or non-police response teams. They span from New York and Los Angeles to Columbus, Ohio, and Houston, and boast annual budgets that together topped $123 million as of June 2023, the AP found. (AP Photo/Thomas Peipert)
Ryan Kenny, the Vail Police Department chief, said that the Eagle County co-responder program has helped connect trained mental health clinicians and community paramedics with those having mental health crises, and resorting to law enforcement when needed.
“The program has drastically reduced emergency room visits and worked to keep patients in their homes while getting the services they need. Someone experiencing a mental health crisis needs the support and expertise of professionals who are trained to recognize and respond to their specific symptoms,” Kenney said in a release.
“The co-responder program in Eagle County has limited law enforcement’s role in these incidents and allowed law enforcement to dedicate their time to public safety. The work Senator Bennet is doing ensures that co-responder programs like the one in Eagle County have the support they need to continue to provide these critical services,” Kenney said.
If passed, the SMART Community Policing Act of 2024 would dedicate money for collaborative partnerships with law enforcement, health providers, outreach teams and more to improve public safety and connect the proper resources to situations as they arise. The bill was introduced on Dec. 17.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
