Burien reviews two‑year co‑responder program; officials cite treatment referrals and faster emergency response

Colleen Brandt Schluter, outgoing human services manager for the city of Burien, presented a two‑year update on the city’s co‑responder program during the Jan. 13 special meeting of the Burien City Council.

The program pairs a mental‑health professional (MHP) with a designated police or fire partner to respond to low‑acuity calls, provide on‑scene assessment and make linkages to services. Presenters said the teams operate roughly six days a week, have made hundreds of referrals and helped multiple people enter residential treatment since May.

The update matters because council and staff described the program as a local alternative to emergency responses that often end in hospital visits or repeat 911 calls. City and agency speakers said co‑responders free up patrol and fire units for higher‑acuity work while providing time‑intensive supports for people in crisis.

Colleen Brandt Schluter, the city’s outgoing human services manager, said the program began as a locally tailored model in 2021 and expanded with partners’ support. “EMS levy dollars covered the firefighter,” she said,…