Three years of co-response: Culture shift in crisis care and policing

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Earlier this month, GRPD and Network180 marked the three-year anniversary of the mental health co-response program. In that time, the team averaged four responses per day and has been very successful in providing alternatives to arrest and/or emergency room care, benefitting both individuals and the community.

In its first three years, the co-response team has provided:

• Over 4,200 responses (including calls for service, court-mandated mental health pick-up orders, and follow-ups)
• 1,100 emergency room diversions
• 1,700 ambulance diversions
• 500 jail diversions
• 315 patient intakes/referrals at the Behavioral Health Crisis Center since it opened in June 2024

When the program started, there was one mental health clinician who worked with a dedicated officer. In August of 2023, the program changed to a roster of qualified patrol officers pairing up with the clinician. Over time, two additional clinicians were added to expand the availability of services.

“Not only have we increased the days and times of co-response availability, a significant result of expanding the clinicians is that patrol officers and detectives can now request co-response follow up after an initial contact,” said Krissy Rutkauskas, who was the first clinician to join the team in 2022. Ms. Rutkauskas is both a licensed master social worker (LMSW) and a qualified intellectual disability professional (QIDP). “Our team provides follow up support directly and can also connect people to a variety of services at Network180 and other healthcare partners, depending on the need.”

“We’re seeing a definite culture shift,” said Sergeant Daryl Howard, the co-response team supervisor. “Officers are proactively recognizing when mental health concerns may be present and are requesting a social worker’s involvement.”

“This program has so many benefits. First and foremost, safer outcomes for individuals, officers and bystanders during a police contact,” said Chief Eric Winstrom. “Police are often the first call for help in an emergency, but that doesn’t mean they are the best resource for an individual in crisis. Our partnership with Network180 has resulted in better outcomes, better use of community resources and better policing.”