TAMPA, Fla. — This week marks national public safety telecommunications week.
It recognizes people who answer 911 calls and help with a wide range of crisis situations — including mental health and behavioral issues.
The Tampa Police Department used the occasion to announce a new partnership with the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay.
It places mental health specialists trained to de-escalate such situations directly in the 911 call center. It is also designed police resources and head-off what could become an unnecessary confrontation.
The Intervention Dispatch Service program starts this summer, with half a dozen full-time mental health crisis workers sitting shoulder to shoulder with TPD dispatchers.
“That's very important,” said Deputy Chief Calvin Johnson, “Because historically the police would be the ones to deal with these calls.”
“We have been studying this and we know that when we can get involved with an individual who is in crisis at 97% of the time, we can de-escalate that individual and get them to Safety without having to involve law enforcement,” said Clara Reynolds, President of the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay.
In some cases, mental health specialists have already joined police in the field.
Now, they'll be in the dispatch center itself where an estimated 60% to 70% of calls have some relation to mental health.
The new program will also, they believe, free-up officers to work other calls — and avoid unintended confrontations.
“Even if we have de-escalated the situation and law enforcement still needs to come out it will be a much better outcome than if that person stays in that heightened elevated place,” Reynolds said.
“I think this program needs to be implemented all over. Not just here for us,” said Tracey Washington, applauding the program.
In November, Washington’s son, Breonte Johnson-Davis, was killed during a drug-induced confrontation with Palmetto Police.
Washington says her son was experiencing a paranoia episode. Since then, she's become an outspoken advocate for mental health intervention.
“I think if there was a professional that was there, he or she could have de-escalated the situation that was going on,” said Washington. “Breonte would still be here.”
The intervention specialists will be available to those who reach out through 911, 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and the 211 Crisis line seven days a week 24 hours a day.
Their goal is to not only to diffuse the situation at hand, but connect callers with behavioral health resources which can then help reduce future crises.
The TPD program is being made possible through a federal grant from the Department of Justice.
Washington says she plans to attend the Manatee County Commission meeting later this month to ask them to make funding available for a similar program at police departments in that jurisdiction which have not already done so.