Los Angeles to Test Unarmed Response to Some 911 Calls

The Los Angeles City Council has voted unanimously to approve a plan to form an unarmed crisis response team that would respond to nonviolent 911 calls.

The council approved the motion 14-0, saying that a different response is needed for people who may be suffering from mental health or substance abuse issues, ABC7 reports.

The city is looking to partner with a nonprofit to develop the team of specially trained, unarmed responders for nonviolent calls. Los Angeles will become the first big city to develop such a pilot program.