![]() Recent news coverage ( 15– 17) has drawn public attention to particularly shocking incidents in which responding police officers seriously harmed or killed a person in mental health distress ( 18). However, having police officers as first responders to a mental health crisis can result in unnecessarily violent and tragic outcomes ( 13, 14). Individuals living with serious mental illness are no more prone to violence or unpredictability than the general population ( 11, 12). Second, having armed and uniformed police as first responders to a mental health or substance abuse crisis may increase the likelihood of costly outcomes and inappropriate care. The potential reallocation of resources away from a police response and toward mental health supports is often a part of current initiatives to “defund the police” ( 7, 9, 10). Those charged with minor offenses such as loitering, making false statements, and vandalism cost the criminal justice system roughly $500 to $600 per offense and come with even higher additional social costs ( 8). Recent estimates ( 6, 7) suggest that a quarter to two-thirds of the emergency calls involving disorder, mental health, medical, and noncriminal calls to which police currently respond could instead be directed to mental health crisis experts and other first responders (i.e., a “community response” model). Police currently spend more time responding to such “low-priority” calls than to any other type of emergency call ( 5). ![]() One is that serving as first responders to calls involving mental health crises is a substantial drain on scarce police resources and comes with heavy human and social costs, even in the absence of police violence and use of lethal force ( 1– 4). This procedural norm has been the subject of debate and criticism for two broad reasons. Police often serve as first responders to emergency calls involving nonviolent individuals in mental health distress or suffering from alcohol or drug abuse. The sharp reduction in targeted crimes reflects the fact that health-focused first responders are less likely to report individuals they serve as criminal offenders and the spillover benefits of the program (e.g., reducing crime during hours when the program was not in operation). We find robust evidence that the program reduced reports of targeted, less serious crimes (e.g., trespassing, public disorder, and resisting arrest) by 34% and had no detectable effect on more serious crimes. This preregistered study presents quasi-experimental evidence on the impact of an innovative “community response” pilot in Denver that directed targeted emergency calls to health care responders instead of the police. ![]() However, there is little causal evidence evaluating these programs. Concerns over the unintended consequences and high costs associated with this approach have motivated emergency response models that augment or completely remove police involvement. ![]() There was no immediate information about the suspect.Police officers often serve as first responders to mental health and substance abuse crises. 18, 2023.ĬBS News Colorado was on scene as officers brought a suspect into custody near the State Capitol in the area of 14th Avenue and Lincoln Street. Denver PD responded to 14th Ave and Lincoln Street, where a shooting suspect was brought into custody on the night of Monday, Sept. DPD confirmed two people were being hospitalized for gunshot injuries, and a third person was also injured but not shot. 18, 2023.Īccording to Denver Police Department's social post, officers were responding to the scene in the 1700 block of 17th Avenue. Denver PD had crime scene tape up for a shooting at 17th Ave and Williams Street in Denver on Monday, Sept. A possible suspect was in custody as well. Three people were being taken to the hospital on Monday night after a shooting in the area of 17th Avenue between Gilpin Street and Williams Street in Denver.
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