👮 Co-Responder Briefs
A new CPSE Center for Innovation report examines co-responder programs — which pair first responders with clinicians and social workers — and offers six actionable recommendations for fire and law enforcement leaders on program design, funding, and measuring results.
New Hope Borough Council voted to join Bucks County's co-responder program, which places trained social service professionals alongside officers to assist with mental health crises, substance abuse, and homelessness — with the county covering costs for the first two years at no obligation to the borough.
Sponsored by: Julota
Julota empowers smarter crisis responses by simplifying and streamlining Law Enforcement and Behavioral Health programs. By integrating hospital, EMS, and social services data into a centralized platform, it enables seamless, secure, and HIPAA-compliant collaboration. Automated reporting ensures compliance, while customizable workflows address community-specific needs. With actionable insights, teams can improve outcomes and secure greater funding, making Julota the only software purpose-built to bridge law enforcement and behavioral health with compassion and efficiency.
Providence police responded to a record 598 mental health incident calls in 2025, a 238% increase from 2018, driven in part by the lingering mental health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The department has overhauled its response through multilayered officer training, including Crisis Intervention Training, ICAT de-escalation techniques, and virtual reality crisis simulations. Since 2012, licensed clinicians from The Providence Center have been embedded in police cruisers, responding alongside officers to behavioral health calls with the goal of diverting people from unnecessary criminal justice involvement. However, the program currently has no overnight coverage, and officials say at least one additional clinician is needed to close that gap. Col. Oscar Perez credited the surge partly to increased community trust in officers, noting that residents are now more comfortable calling police for help during mental health crises.
The Kenosha County Sheriff's Office has rolled out a new officer wellness program, funded through the county's 2026 budget, providing all sworn deputies and correctional staff with annual mental health check-ins, on-site peer support, stress management training, and critical incident debriefs.
“It's not normal to see people that are hurt, people involved in abuse, dead bodies. It's okay to ask for help. We are all strong individuals, but the human mind can only take so much.”
Sheriff Zoerner, who lost his best friend to an on-duty murder, said the department once had no formal support, with struggling officers simply told to take a breath and move on. Sgt. Terry Tifft, who was involved in an officer-involved shooting five years ago, said the lack of mental health resources at the time led to sleep loss, family strain, and prolonged stress and hopes the program inspires more officers to seek help without shame.
Social Briefs: