A combined effort between the Utica Police Department and the Neighborhood Center's Mobile Crisis Assessment Team to redirect mental health calls in the city is underway. The Crisis Intervention Team, consisting of a police officer and a crisis counselor, will work out of police headquarters to respond to mental health calls and divert individuals from the criminal justice system to mental health resources in the area. Last year, the Utica Police Department responded to around 800 calls related to mental health crises, according to Chief Mark Williams. He and MCAT Director Kristin Sauerbier both agree these are not necessarily calls police are equipped to respond to.