Edina’s alternative response pilot has answered 210 calls since June, officials say

Edina police told the City Council on Oct. 15 that an alternative response team (ART) pilot launched June 24 has handled more than 210 calls and is showing early signs of reducing time police and fire personnel spend on certain welfare‑check and behavioral‑health calls.

Lieutenant Ryan Schultz said the pilot pairs a Hennepin County social worker with an Edina paramedic/firefighter and operates out of the police department with a radio to monitor dispatch. The team responds when calls are more appropriate for social‑service response than an emergency room transport and can identify shelters, behavioral‑health resources and longer‑term follow‑up services. Schultz said the embedded social worker’s case load includes 30–100 people annually and the ART provides on‑demand follow‑up and morning checks when night shift officers transfer cases.

Metrics and hours: Schultz told the council staff are documenting calls, including how many police and fire units were relieved on each incident. The current pilot hours are 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday–Friday; the city has applied for a state grant to expand hours and possibly add another team.

Partnerships and scope: Schultz described partnerships with Bloomington Public Health, a mental‑health detective who supports court processes, and a therapy dog (Lou) in training for community and response use. Council members praised the program and asked staff to provide milestone metrics and success criteria that could support replication.

Why it matters: advocates of alternative response models say they can provide more appropriate care for people with behavioral‑health and social‑service needs while freeing sworn officers to respond to emergencies. Edina officials said the pilot is documenting outcomes to guide decisions about expansion.