Baltimore Police Crisis Response Under Fire After Deaths

Baltimore City leaders are urgently addressing the police department's response to mental health crises, spurred by two tragic deaths last summer. Dontae Melton Jr. died in police custody, and Pytorcarcha Clark-Brooks was fatally shot by officers during separate incidents. The City Council is questioning the current crisis response teams' speed and efficacy, demanding immediate action.

Officials are exploring various solutions, including augmenting current teams with clinicians and peers for quicker intervention. They are also considering a dedicated civilian response team for non-criminal, non-violent calls, potentially alongside incentives like student debt relief for social workers and crisis intervention specialists. The goal is to ensure a more responsive and resource-rich system.

The city is assessing the costs for a state-of-the-art system and will receive estimates within three weeks. Experts from other cities have shared insights on successful mental health response models. The Baltimore City Behavioral Health Collaborative is scheduled to meet later this month to further discuss these critical improvements.