EL PASO, Texas – (KFOX14\/CBS4) \u2014 When a mental health crisis turns into a 911 call in El Paso, police and local mental health leaders say a specialized team is increasingly being used to respond and connect people with help.<\/p>\n
The El Paso Police Department\u2019s Crisis Intervention Team, known as CIT, responds to calls involving mental health concerns such as emotional distress, substance abuse episodes or suicidal thoughts. <\/p>\n
RELATED: Ride along with El Paso County’s Crisis Intervention Team<\/a><\/p>\n Police say the goal is to reduce repeat calls, cut down response times and connect people to resources.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a partnership that started in 2019 with El Paso Police Department in an effort to divert individuals from inappropriate systems of care, and by that, jail, hospitals, ERs,\u201d said Chrystal Davis, chief operating officer for Emergence Health Network.<\/p>\n Davis said officers volunteer to serve on the team. <\/p>\n \u201cThey volunteer to do this, and it’s not an easy job, but they’re dedicated to that and want the best possible outcome for clients, community and family members,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Calls labeled \u201cin progress\u201d typically take priority, including suicides. <\/p>\n Police said there have been about 900 emergency detentions so far this year, with half of those handled by CIT.<\/p>\n Davis said the program is showing results. <\/p>\n \u201cOf the 3,809 interventions that we’ve had, 98% of those individuals have been diverted and not gone to jail or to the emergency room,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n The department said it has seen a decrease in repeat calls, but the team faces challenges with staffing and vehicles. <\/p>\n Police also said there are times when officers respond to one call after another while more calls remain pending.<\/p>\n \u201cWe did increase the staffing a couple of years ago and I would hope and anticipate that in the next few years we’ll see continued growth because it is highly successful and it’s something that the community needs and the community wants,\u201d Davis said.<\/p>\n Police said community members are now asking for the team by name, and the department hopes to continue public engagement as the need for CIT grows. <\/p>\n To learn more about the team, click here.<\/a><\/p>\n RELATED: Community Conversations: How El Paso police respond to mental health crises<\/a><\/p>\n