Denver is expanding a program that has mental health providers accompany cops
The Denver and the Mental Health Center of Denver program has co-responders accompany police on calls that are likely to be mental health-related.
“Co-responders” are mental health professionals who go on calls with police officers when it seems like the person in question might have untreated mental health problems. The idea is to get people treatment instead of putting them in jail for what is ultimately a medical issue.
Denver and the Mental Health Center of Denver started a pilot program in April to have three co-responders accompany police on calls that were likely to be mental health-related. By July, they had responded to 427 calls involving someone experiencing an mental or behavioral health crisis and diverted 408 people to treatment instead of jail.
Now that program is expanding to six co-responders.
The program is part of Denver’s Crisis Intervention and Response Unit and represents a partnership between Denver Human Services’ Office of Behavioral Health Strategies, the Denver Police Department and the Mental Health Center of Denver.

Bruce Randolph School just got half a million dollars to build a hydroponic classroom farm

The city must give 7-day warning before clearing encampments of unhoused residents

City council approves contract allowing city park ranger live in historic cabin for free

When Aurora Police held four children on the ground at gunpoint last summer, the incident went viral. Now the family is suing.

State settles with company for inflating mask prices, making false safety claims

Its art summoned relatives from the dead for some viewers. Fifty years later, the art collective Lumonics is still trippy.

Nettie Moore reflects on 96 years in Denver’s west side as her pacemaker slowly fails

16th Street Mall continues slow roll toward reconstruction with a builder on board

Wealthier and whiter neighborhoods in Denver have higher vaccinations rates

Things to do in Denver this weekend without spreading the coronavirus, Jan. 22-24

Happy 150th birthday, Dr. Justina Ford! Here’s how to celebrate.

How Wonderbound has kept dancing through the pandemic

Denver law enforcement officials have left the group tasked with transforming Denver law enforcement

Things to do to avoid downtown on Inauguration Day

Are you one of the many Denverites walking your stress away?

Reasons we might be seeing more bald eagles in Denver: Rachel Carson, COVID-19, us


This year’s XicanIndie FilmFest at Su Teatro is now accepting submissions

No, you can’t openly carry a firearm in Denver, and other things you should know about the city’s gun laws
