The Dayton Police Department is concentrating on Mobile Crisis Response Teams in response to a rapid increase in calls involving mental health issues.
Detective Patty Tackett has worked in crisis intervention for two decades, and she now has a team with officers and social workers who are aiming to stop smaller problems before they develop into deadly ones.
Officers are now riding with social workers, who can now immediately try to help those in trouble and find help with specific resources.
Tackett mentioned that jail isn’t always necessary, so they are working together to find not just crime, but the core issues, like homelessness, addiction or mental health hurdles.
“I’m doing more one-on-one with people and you build the rapport and you see the progress they’re making,” said Marybeth Petrosh, Eastway social worker.
Dayton police say the MCRT is needed now more than ever, 2020 showed mental health calls for service skyrocket to almost 5,500.
The previous 3-year average was roughly 3,900.
Police say with the needs and numbers continuing to go up, they hope the team will be able to add more people to help in long-term ways.
“We’re just seeing the beginning of what the effects are going to be as we go down the road,” Tackett said.