Program will address mental health crisis calls
APD, BCSO to use mobile teams with relevant expertise for some 911 calls
Kathy Finch recounted the day her then 24-year-old son broke into her Albuquerque house and proceeded to beat and stab her and her husband.
Finch barely survived the brutal attack on that August day in 2015. Her husband, David, didn’t make it.
“He repeatedly stabbed us. I was in and out of consciousness,” she said Tuesday during an event at Civic Plaza aimed at drawing attention to mental health issues.
During that event, Bernalillo County and city of Albuquerque officials announced a new pilot program being launched to better address mental health crisis calls to law enforcement. It involves the creation of Mobile Crisis Teams comprised of a Crisis Intervention Unit deputy or officer and a master’s level behavioral health clinician such as a social worker or counselor. Those Mobile Crisis Teams will respond to priority one 911 calls related to non-violent individuals experiencing behavioral health crises.
“Our hope is that the licensed clinicians will be able to connect with clients in crisis, de-escalate situations, work with the client and families on treatment and be able to communicate with hospitals effectively when clients need to have immediate access to stabilization services,” county Behavioral Health Director Katrina Hotrum told the Journal.
Finch described her son, James, as a troubled young man who was using methamphetamine, marijuana and alcohol. Although the Mobile Crisis Teams won’t respond in instances when a mentally ill person is violent, Finch believes her husband would still be alive if her son had been sent for a behavioral health evaluation at the first sign of trouble.
“I have great hope that crisis intervention teams ... can make a difference in these kinds of circumstances,” Finch said.
The pilot program will cost $500,000, half of which is being paid for by the city and the other half by the county through funds generated from the behavioral health gross receipts tax voters previously approved. More money is available to expand the program if it is successful.
A county spokeswoman said she expects the Mobile Crisis Teams to begin operating in August.
Albuquerque Police Chief Gorden Eden and Bernalillo County Sheriff Manuel Gonzales both praised the pilot program.
“Currently, our 911 dispatchers receive more than 90 calls a month from people and or families who could benefit from the services provided by mobile crisis teams,” Gonzales said.
Eden said the Albuquerque Police Department gets about 525 calls a month related to individuals experiencing mental health issues, and only about 1 percent of those calls end in some type of arrest.
“We know we can continue to improve these outcomes as a result of this wonderful initiative,” Eden said.
Eden and Mayor Richard Berry noted that APD officers are trained in crisis intervention for mentally ill individuals.
“Together, as a community, we can make a real difference,” said County Manager Julie Morgas Baca.