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CAP program reports hiring gains, expanded behavioral health units and increased transfers from police
Summary
Phoenix officials told the subcommittee April 2 that the city’s Crisis Assistance Program (CAP) has increased staffing, expanded behavioral health coverage and is transferring more calls from police to crisis teams.
Assistant Fire Chief Ray Ochoa and CAP administrator DC Ernst briefed the Public Safety and Justice Subcommittee April 2 on staffing, operations and recent program growth for the city’s CAP behavioral health and crisis response units.
Ochoa said CAP is about 80% staffed with ongoing background checks and recent hiring rounds; the program runs six behavioral health units seven days a week (23.5 hours daily) and six crisis response units with varying daily coverage. The long-term goal is to reach nine behavioral health units and 10 crisis response units, with additional hires expected to fill remaining positions by the first quarter of 2026.
CAP staff reported performance trends: behavioral health units handled 496 calls in February and roughly 47% of calls came from transfers by Phoenix Police. Overall transfers from police in January–February were 234 calls, a 142% increase compared with the same period in 2024, presenters said. Average dispatch-to-on-scene time for behavioral health and crisis-response units was reported at about 24 and 23 minutes, respectively.
Ochoa described coordination efforts with Phoenix Police communications to increase identification and transfer of appropriate calls, rollout of 24/7 behavioral-health dispatcher coverage (achieved March 31), and training and outreach including an updated e-learning video for officers. The department also reported recent hiring of roughly 18 additional staff to expand capacity; leaders said they will provide fuller historical staffing-context charts when available.
Vice Mayor O’Brien and other members asked for a three-year data series and annotated charts that show hiring dates and staffing increases alongside call volumes; CAP leadership agreed to supply more granular historical data in future reports. CAP staff also noted a congressional recognition for the program and continued outreach at community events.
