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The Columbus Division of Police receives on common greater than 20,000 psychological well being calls annually. The Proper Response Unit has been in existence since June 2021.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — If somebody calls 911 with a psychological well being emergency within the Metropolis of Columbus, a police officer will not be the one who responds. As a substitute, dispatchers might join callers with personnel or providers they want, as a part of the “Right Response Unit.”
The Columbus Division of Police receives on common greater than 20,000 psychological well being calls annually. The Proper Response Unit has been in existence since June 2021.
“It basically positioned social employees employed by Columbus Public Well being into our 911 name middle to triage psychological well being calls that may come into that facility,” mentioned Dan Ginardella, the deputy director for the Division of Public Security.
At a Columbus Metropolis Council public listening to Tuesday, metropolis leaders acquired an replace about this system. Between June 2021 and September 2022, the RRU helped with near 2,000 occasions. About 30% of the occasions didn’t require any police response, saving about 750 hours of officer time.
“Each name that we get to divert from really sending an officer out and having a clinician reply the decision is price its weight in gold, as we take a look at the hours that we’d like our officers on the road serving to to stop and fixing crime,” mentioned Councilmember Emmanuel Remy, the Chair of Public Security.
This system has value the town between $4 and 5 million, which incorporates hiring crew members on each the regulation enforcement and public well being sides.
The RRU prolonged its hours final week Monday by Friday from 8:30 am to midnight.
The Division of Public Security says no use-of-force conditions have concerned the RRU.
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