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Belton’s mental‑health co‑responder reports reduced ER transports and high first‑time encounter rate
Summary
City behavioral health co‑responder Oscar Villarreal reported that in the program’s first year the team stabilized most co‑response calls in the field, reduced emergency department transports and engaged many first‑time crisis callers.
Oscar Villarreal, the city’s behavioral health co‑responder embedded with the Belton Police Department through a grant from the Department of Justice and Missouri Department of Mental Health, told the council that his first full year on the team produced measurable reductions in hospital transports and repeat crisis calls.
Villarreal reported that from January 2024 through January 2025 the program handled 202 crisis calls involving 162 unique individuals; roughly 80 percent of calls involved people contacting crisis services for the first time. When Villarreal and an officer responded together (traditional co‑response), 84 percent of incidents were stabilized in the field and the team diverted 67 percent of appropriate cases from emergency department transport. By contrast, incidents handled without a co‑responder had lower diversion rates and higher subsequent hospital transfers.
Villarreal said his work emphasizes connecting individuals to follow‑up care — including the Behavioral Health Crisis Center (BHCC) and local providers — and coordinating with community partners such as Heart in Hand. He told the council that the program’s goals include reducing repeat crisis contacts, returning officers to patrol more quickly and reducing strain on emergency departments.
Chief Lyons and other council members applauded the data. Council members asked about safety protocols when Villarreal operates without police backup; Villarreal said he generally notifies dispatch and maintains radio contact and that the department’s crisis intervention training and policies guide safety practices. Council members also discussed the program’s grant status and said the data should help sustain or expand funding and coverage hours.
Villarreal said the program is one part of a broader local strategy that includes CIT (Crisis Intervention Team) training for officers and 988 public crisis lines; he recommended continued local partnerships and increased coverage to extend the program’s benefits.
