Washington, DC ~ Wednesday, October 20, 2021
Remarks as Delivered
Hello, and welcome to the Taking the Call national conference. It is a pleasure to be part of this new event focused on a crucial topic. I want to thank our Office of Justice Programs’ Bureau of Justice Assistance, the Council of State Governments Justice Center and the University of Cincinnati for organizing this event.
This convening addresses some of the most pressing issues we face as a country. Our society is turning to law enforcement to address a wide array of social problems. Too often, police officers are the first ones called when someone is experiencing a mental health crisis. In many jurisdictions, these calls seem to increase every year – and they often lead to challenging interactions. They take longer to resolve and can create unnecessary physical confrontations.
Even after situations are controlled, responding officers are limited in where they can transport individuals experiencing a crisis. These realities raise difficult and urgent questions. When a call is placed to 9-1-1, how can we improve the response? How do those responses protect public safety, ensure public health and build trust between communities and law enforcement? How can our public safety and health systems work in concert to support individuals in crisis?