HAVERHILL, Mass. (AP) - Police in Haverhill are asking the city to hire a therapist to ride along with officers and respond to calls involving people in mental or emotional distress.
Police Chief Alan DeNaro made the request at last week’s City Council meeting, the Eagle-Tribune reported. The council voted to submit a letter asking the mayor to approve the hire.
DeNaro’s proposal would hire a licensed clinical social worker to ride with officers 40 hours a week. The idea was recommended by local health officials and could help defuse tense situations, he said.
“Mental health technicians getting involved on the streets is something the public has demanded,” DeNaro said.
The request was supported by council members including Tim Jordan, who said it’s unreasonable to expect police to stand in for trained mental health councilors, the Eagle-Tribune reported.
A growing number of cities have hired mental health experts to ride with police as “co-responders” to 911 calls. In some cases it has come amid pressure from protesters following the death of George Floyd and other black Americans killed by law enforcement.
A model adopted by Boston police in 2011 pairs officers with clinicians who help respond to psychiatric emergencies.
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