Minneapolis behavioral crisis response program a success, say city leaders

by Mohamed Ibrahim, via MinnPost, February 2024

City leaders and program staff touted the success of the program, calling it a pillar in the city’s aim to develop a comprehensive public safety apparatus that goes beyond policing.

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Earlier this month, Minneapolis 911 dispatchers received a call from someone experiencing emotional distress claiming that a dog in their home was after them.

Instead of sending multiple Minneapolis Police officers, Mike Hamilton, a lead responder with the city’s unarmed Behavioral Crisis Response (BCR) team, and his partner were dispatched to their home.

“No lights, no sirens and identifiable clothing, per usual,” he said.

Hamilton, who is finishing up his doctorate in clinical psychology, and his partner assessed the individual, finding that the dog was a symptom of a delusional disorder and ultimately successfully de-escalating the situation using their training.

“When a member in our community experiences a situation that breaks their ability to cope, the BCR will be the first to respond with dignity and respect fit for any human being,” Hamilton said.

Minneapolis city leaders and BCR program staff on Tuesday touted the success of the work done by Hamilton and his colleagues. They called the alternative response program a pillar in city officials’ aim to develop a comprehensive public safety apparatus that goes beyond policing.

“(BCR) is the beginning of a foundation of an entire new way of thinking about safety in our city,” said Minneapolis City Council President Elliott Payne, who worked on the team that helped launch the program before running for office.

The BCR program is funded by $2.9 million in one-time allocations and $1.45 million per year in ongoing funding in the city’s 2023-2024 biennial budget. Responders from Canopy Roots, a local Black-owned mental health organization contracted with the city, provide crisis intervention, counseling and referrals to support services for people experiencing mental health crises.

While the bulk of the findings of the federal investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department outlined years of racially discriminatory policing and unjustified use of force against people experiencing mental health issues, the Department of Justice praised the BCR program in its report.

The program came about as a pilot just over two years ago in the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder by then-MPD officer Derek Chauvin. Cities across the country, including Minneapolis, began searching for and implementing alternatives to armed police response for certain types of 911 calls.

This was exacerbated by a wave of retirements, resignations and disability leaves by officers in 2020 following the unrest sparked by Floyd’s murder. As MPD continues to experience staffing woes and remains under its authorized number of officers, alternative response programs like BCR lessen the strain on the department by diverting a significant portion of the city’s 911 call volume away from the already stretched-thin police force.

Ward 5 Council Member Jeremiah Ellison said a study commissioned by the council around 2018 found that mental health and emotional distress calls were among the most time consuming calls for officers.

“This told us that this is an urgent service, this is an urgent need, these are emergencies in our community and we don’t have an appropriate response,” Ellison said. “I think that was the impetus of why we leaned into creating this.”

The team – which now comprises 20 full-time responders and 11 part-time or casual responders – has received around 20,000 dispatches since its launch in December 2021. The service runs 24 hours daily using three vans during the day and two overnight when call volume dips.

Marisa Stevenson, manager of the program with Canopy Roots, said they will soon be adding two more vans and hiring more responders for those units. They will also be creating a community advisory board to help shape the future of the program.

“The success of the BCR reflects a significant step forward in prioritizing mental health within our public safety infrastructure,” she said. “As a majority Black-owned and woman-led organization, we are deeply committed to the collective wellbeing and community empowerment.”