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Maricopa County's co-responder team starts in District 3, offers post-crisis navigation for seniors
Summary
The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office described a Behavioral Health Response Unit that pairs licensed clinicians with deputies for 9-1-1 calls, welfare checks, dementia-related responses and post-crisis follow-up; presenters said the team has handled more than 800 calls since January and provides no-cost navigation via a COPS grant partnership.
Maricopa County Sheriff's Office co-responders described a new Behavioral Health Response Unit that embeds licensed clinicians with patrol deputies to respond to 9-1-1 calls involving mental-health concerns, dementia-related welfare checks and other social-service needs.
"We are out in the field with our deputies to really support whatever comes through on our end of things," said Taryn Mingi, a licensed professional counselor and a co-responder with the unit. She said clinicians accompany deputies in unmarked vehicles and wear protective equipment while offering de-escalation, resources, involuntary-transport assistance and post-crisis follow-up.
Taryn and co-responder Kelly Kerrigan said the team also focuses on navigation for seniors who lack family support or transportation, connecting people to counseling, ride services, and community resources at no cost through a COPS Office grant that partners the sheriff's office with La Frontera. "If our deputies go out on a welfare check for someone and they're in the early stages of dementia, how do we get that person connected to the right resource?" Mingi asked, and said the co-responders help fill that gap.
The presenters said since January the unit has responded to more than 800 calls in the county. Examples included arranging transportation to medical appointments for homebound residents and coordinating follow-up so high-frequency 9-1-1 callers receive social services rather than repeated emergency responses.
Captain Joel Campa and others said the program reduces deputies' workload on social-service tasks and provides specialized care at crisis scenes. The co-responders also provide training to deputies (including Crisis Intervention Team and mental-health-first-aid courses) and help identify service gaps the county can address.
Ending: Co-responder staff said they will continue outreach and invited residents to ask questions at the event and to contact the unit for information about post-crisis services and follow-up support.
