MIAMI, Okla. — A local police department is strengthening its response to mental health emergencies. We spoke with one of the Miami Police Department’s newest team members.
“I get to go out in the community and help a lot of people; it’s a wider variety of people that I get to help now,” said Miami Police Department Co-Responder Sarah Lopez.
Sarah Lopez says she has been working in the mental health field since she was 17. Now she’s bringing that experience to the Miami Police Department as its newly appointed co-responder.
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“It’s different every single day and it’s to help with the mental health crisis, substance abuse, and welfare checks,” said Lopez.
The position was created through a partnership with Grand Mental Health. Miami Police Chief Stephen Sigmon says co-responder programs can vary across police departments.
“Some entities put them in the jail, or they have someone that may refer cases to. For the City of Miami we actually have our co-responder respond out with officers,” said Sigmon.
“It’s also helped a lot of police officers understand that not everything is just a crime, some people are just struggling, and they need that extra help,” said Lopez.
Sigmon hopes to secure additional grant funding to expand the program.
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