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Lee's Summit highlights water sources and police co‑responder mental‑health program
Summary
Presenters told the committee that Lee's Summit draws treated water from Independence and Kansas City (Missouri River and regional aquifer), operates distribution infrastructure serving more than 100,000 residents, and described a co‑responder program pairing licensed behavioral‑health professionals with officers to de‑escalate crises and connect people to services.
Committee members heard a presentation describing Lee's Summit's water supply and a police co‑responder mental‑health program during the March 23 meeting.
The presentation said the city receives treated water from two primary regional sources: the Courtney Bend Water Treatment Plant in Independence (which operates multiple wells drawing from the Missouri River aquifer and supplies Lee's Summit with up to 7–12 million gallons per day) and a Kansas City treatment plant that pumps up to 25 million gallons per day. Presenters said advanced monitoring, three pumping stations and eight storage tanks distribute water over an extensive system the presentation described as roughly 639 miles of water mains serving more than 100,000 people. The presentation directed listeners to lsswater.net for more information.
Speakers also described the crisis intervention team and a co‑responder program that pairs licensed behavioral‑health professionals with police officers on scene to de‑escalate mental‑health crises, provide safety planning and connect people to services instead of taking them to emergency rooms or jail. A co‑responder who identified herself as Alison said, "I'm a mental health professional. I'm here to help you. I'm not here to take you to jail or arrest you." The presentation cited data showing mental‑health related calls for service rose from 722 in 2020 to 1,479 in 2022.
Presenters said callers who want a co‑responder can request one when calling 911. The program's aims described in the presentation were diversion from emergency rooms and jails, connection to ongoing care, and changing how community members perceive police response to behavioral‑health incidents.
