Baltimore pilot program aims to divert some 911 calls for behavioral health from police baltimoresun.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from baltimoresun.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby last month cut the cord on possession arrests that have been falling for many years, but the city is only inching toward establishing a wider public health response, and residents are voicing concern and frustration.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott has a plan to divert certain 911 calls to a crisis hotline in an effort to help provide mental health help to city residents.The point is, not every 911 call requires a response by someone with a badge. Currently, any call to 911 will generate a police response, even if it is not a law enforcement problem. The mayor wants to change that. Doing the same thing is not going to make us a safer city, Scott said. We know that the folks at (Baltimore Police Department), the men and women who work there, are not substance abuse, mental health nor trauma counselors. We will lean on trained professionals in world-class health institutions that we have here in Baltimore to deliver the necessary clinical care. The program would start with about 170 emergency dispatchers, who are currently being trained to know when to divert a call to a help hotline operated by Baltimore Crisis Response Inc. This is essentially where people call in and certain calls will auto
Baltimore to send some 911 calls to counselors; police reform advocates seek further, community-connected steps baltimoresun.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from baltimoresun.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.