26-03-2025
Garden City PD starts mental health co-responder program
GARDEN CITY, Kan. (KSNW) — The Garden City Police Department has launched a new Mental Health Co-Responder Program with Compass Behavioral Health to enhance crisis response and community well-being.
The program pairs officers with mental health professionals from Compass to respond to calls involving mental health crises, aiming to provide immediate support and connect individuals to necessary resources.
Bill would rename highway for murdered Kansas moms
Behavioral health professionals will work alongside GCPD officers in the field. Together, the teams will evaluate each situation and determine the most appropriate services or interventions, bridging the gap between law enforcement and mental health support.
'The Co-Responder Program is a critical step forward for public safety in Garden City,' the department said in a statement. 'It ensures that individuals in crisis receive the right care at the right time, and it promotes safer, more effective outcomes for everyone involved.'
The department said the program aims to de-escalate tense situations, reduce the burden on emergency services, and foster a more empathetic and comprehensive approach to policing.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
