Copperas Cove Mental Health Response Team

The Copperas Cove Police Department proposes to implement the Mental Health Response Team. The purpose is to have the ability for a dedicated team to respond to calls for service when a person is in crisis and to provide follow-up for at-risk individuals in the jurisdictional boundaries of the city of Copperas Cove (which includes three different counties). Project activities include selecting qualified individuals, implementing a training program, and supplying qualified personnel with the necessary equipment to perform essential functions of the job. Expected outcomes include improved officer and citizen safety; increased availability of support, services, and treatment to people before a crisis; decreased frequency of enforcement encounters with individuals with mental illness; and redirected enforcement resources to allow for additional crime detection, suppression, and community involvement.