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Midstate county implements co-responder law enforcement model

“We live in a country that the largest provider of mental health services are our county jails, which is absolutely unacceptable.”

  • Julia Agos/WITF
A Harrisburg Police car is seen on the street in Harrisburg on Aug. 19, 2019.

 Ian Sterling for WITF

A Harrisburg Police car is seen on the street in Harrisburg on Aug. 19, 2019.

(Harrisburg) – Dauphin County is implementing a co-responder model to help law enforcement respond to calls involving a person with a mental illness or a substance abuse disorder.

The co-responder accompanies an officer out on a call in which behavioral health may be the underlying factor for the person at risk of arrest. They can also follow up with the person to provide an assessment or referral for even if an arrest is not made. They may wear a bullet proof vest but are usually unarmed.

The goal is to provide treatment, rather than incarceration, to reduce the number of people with mental illness in the criminal justice system.

“It’s been well documented that we live in a country that the largest provider of mental health services are our county jails which is absolutely unacceptable,” said Dauphin County commissioner George Hartwick.

The state Department of Human Services awarded a total of $180,548 for fiscal year 2019 through 2021 for two co-responder positions in Dauphin County. One co-responder is stationed in Harrisburg and another rotates on a monthly basis between Lower Paxton, Swatara, and Susquehanna townships.

The police departments were determined based on call volume to EMS for assistance with mental health-related concerns.

Hartwick says the program has provided much needed relief to law enforcement.

“I think it can best be captured by the call I received last week from Chief of Swatara Township. It was the end of their month period with our co-responded. He called me on a Thursday – the co-responder’s last day was on Friday – saying we cannot lose her!” Hartwick said.

Hartwick says the program is a part of an ongoing effort to supplement police involvement in non-violent incidents.

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