Bessemer PD Co Response Team 2023

Mental Health and Wellness is a major topic of discussion in today’s society. It affects the homeless, children and adults of all ages, law enforcement officers, and the communities they serve. “One (1) in five (5) Americans are affected by mental illness in a given year, and out of that population, only 41 percent received mental health services in the past year.” Bessemer Police Department (BPD) serves some 25,600 residents, and a large percentage of that population suffers from poor mental health. BPD is dedicated to getting the community the necessary services it needs by partnering with Ryan’ Hope Foundation’s mental health practitioners, local emergency dispatchers, and EMS and ambulance workers. BPD seeks to implement a collaborative approach with these partners to connect and deliver services to the community. This collaborative effort will consist of a co-response team (CRT) with mental health professionals and Bessemer police officers, a network of service providers, a law enforcement-mental health case management system, a mobile crisis team, a crisis resolution and home treatment team, and EMS and Ambulance-based responses. These tactics will allow more individuals suffering from mental health disorders and mental health and substance use disorders to receive the proper mental health services, avoid negative interactions with the police, receive a continuum of care, and maximize the appropriation of law enforcement resources.