Denver Sending Civilians, Not Police to Some Mental Health Calls

Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen says when it comes to crisis calls that do not involve a weapon or threat to other community members police may not always be the best response.

June 12, 2019

Denver police are developing a pilot program that would dispatch civilian teams to certain 911 calls. Instead of a police officer, a team of mental health workers and medics would respond.

Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen says when it comes to crisis calls that do not involve a weapon or threat to other community members police may not always be the best response.

“If we have a team of dedicated individuals with those types of backgrounds, we feel like we can have a positive impact on our most vulnerable population,” Chief Pazen told CBS Denver.

Denver would use a program already in use in Eugene, Oregon as a model. It is called Crisis Assistance Helping Out on the Streets or CAHOOTS.

Editorial

Maximizing Fleet Efficiency and Accountability with Traka Key Management Solutions

Maximizing Fleet Efficiency and Accountability with Traka Key Management Solutions

Banner Final Gettyimages 1310108875 170667a

Staying Ahead of the Curve: Navigating Emerging Drugs for Law Enforcement

Banner Final Gettyimages 470407026 170667a

How to Support More Effective De-Escalation and Use-of-Force Training

Web Graphic Thumbnail Rtcc Checklist 375x480

Build Your Real-Time Crime Center

Chicago Officer Shot and Killed Driving Home from Shift

Officers responded to a ShotSpotter alert just before 3 a.m. and found Officer Luis Huesca outside of his vehicle and wounded. He died at a local hospital.

Texas Officer Critically Wounded at Domestic, Fighting for Life

Officer Kyle Hicks was responding to a domestic disturbance call at 12:32 a.m. Saturday at the. At the location a man and woman were involved in a disturbance with shots fired.

Corpus Christi, Texas, Police Officer Kyle Hicks was critically wounded at a domestic Saturday.

Oklahoma Investigator Dies After On-Duty Medical Event

Investigator Brian Herbert, 56, was on the range during annual firearms qualification when he felt chest pains and lost consciousness.

Idaho Deputy Shot and Killed During Traffic Stop

Boise Police said the suspect fled and was located at a residence in Boise less than an hour later, but was "uncooperative." Shortly before midnight, police said the suspect shot at officers, who returned fire.

Deputy Tobin Bolter of the Ada County (Idaho) Sheriff's Office was shot and mortally wounded Saturday. He died in the hospital Sunday.

Albany Police Say Man who Shot Officer Killed Self

The officer wounded early Wednesday morning was Jonathan Damphier, police confirmed Thursday. Damphier has been with the department since 2021, and is recovering from a successful surgery.

Memphis Officer Killed Last Week in Shootout May Have been Hit by Friendly Fire

"Although current information indicates friendly fire, we believe the 17-year-old’s reprehensible actions are still the real cause of Officer McKinney’s death..." the DA's office said in a statement.

Tunnels to Towers Pays Off Mortgage for Slain New York Deputy’s Family

“On behalf of the CNY T2T crew, our condolences go out to the family, friends and fellow officers of Onondaga County Sherrifs Lt. Michael Hoosock and Syracuse Police Officer Michael Jensen,” Tunnels to Towers said.

Investigators Believe New York Man Killed Officers Over Grudge

Christopher R. Murphy, 33, shot and killed Onondaga County Sheriff’s Lt. Michael Hoosock and Syracuse police Officer Michael Jensen Sunday night in Salina outside of the residence where Murphy lived with his parents.

New York Officer Wounded in “Ambush” Attack, Suspect Killed

When he got out of his patrol vehicle and started to approach the suspect’s vehicle, the officer came under fire.

Albany Police Chief Eric Hawkins and Mayor Kathy Sheehan brief the press about a shooting that wounded an Albany officer on April 17, 2024.

Indiana Deputy Killed by Downed Power Lines Responding to Crash

According to Hendricks County Sheriff Jack Sadler, Deputy Fred Fislar was responding to a single-vehicle accident around 11:50 p.m. where a passenger car hit a utility pole, leaving low-hanging electrical wires near the crash site.

Judge Awards Nearly $23 Million to Undercover St. Louis Officer Beaten by Colleagues During 2017 Protest

Luther Hall sued three of his former colleagues — Randy Hays, Dustin Boone and Christopher Myers — in 2022 over their actions five years earlier during public protests.

Nebraska Officer Killed During Traffic Stop Crash

Officer Ross Bartlett’s vehicle was stopped and performing a traffic stop involving a Nissan sedan around 7:37 p.m. when a Ford pickup truck hit the rear of his patrol unit pushing it into the sedan.

Ceresco, Nebraska, Police Officer Ross Bartlett was killed Friday night when his vehicle was hit during a traffic stop.

Page 1 of 2354