Richmond staff detail ROCK crisis-response call types, training and 911 triage as team prepares to hit streets

Summary

Richmond staff told the Community Crisis Response Program Advisory Board that a six-person ROCK team began training Dec. 1 and will respond to nonviolent, nonmedical calls triaged through 911 dispatch; staff outlined safety protocols, data integration and a plan to expand staffing after initial deployment.

Program Manager Michael Romero told the Richmond Community Crisis Response Program Advisory Board on Dec. 15 that six community intervention specialists began training Dec. 1 as part of the city’s new ROCK crisis-response team and that the unit will initially respond to nonviolent, nonmedical calls triaged through 911 dispatch.

The presentation described candidate call types the team may handle — "low-level behavioral health crises, wellness checks, disturbance, safe transports, passive suicidal ideation, mediation, request for information or resources, and firefighter or officer support for follow ups," Romero said — and explained why staff routed ROCK calls through the city’s 911 dispatchers at launch.

Staff said the dispatch-first approach is intended to protect responder safety and preserve data continuity. "Dispatchers have all of that information" — prior call history, flags for weapons or violence — "so they've already triaged and…

Richmond staff detail ROCK crisis-response call types, training and 911 triage as team prepares to hit streets

Summary

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