New El Paso Police Department Unit Part Of Novel Approach To Mental Health Calls

Through efforts by the El Paso City Council in Texas, the El Paso Police Department (EPPD) and Emergence Health Network (EHN) are forming a three-year agreement to fund the Crisis Intervention Team. The purpose of the team—according to EHN leadership—is to avoid the criminalization and incarceration of individuals with mental illness.

In total, the team will be receiving $330,000 to fund additional police trainees, and $530,891 to fund mental health clinical professionals. As part of the efforts, the EPPD continues to select qualified officers who show an interest in mental health to take part in . . .