City Touts Positive Impact of New Co-Responder Program
Published on March 27, 2025
CenterPointe staff now working with LPD to respond to mental health calls
Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird and community representatives today announced the implementation of the Co-Responder Program, a partnership between the Lincoln Police Department (LPD) and CenterPointe. Co-responders have been hired and trained and are already working and making a positive impact on community members experiencing a mental health crisis, the Mayor said.
The Co-Responder Program allows mental health professionals to respond jointly with LPD officers during calls for service involving people experiencing mental health crisis. Two co-responders began service March 3, with another expected to start in early April.
“This collaborative approach provides a more focused and effective response to the mental health needs of the community, while ensuring public safety,” Mayor Gaylor Baird said. “The City’s implementation of the Co-Responder Program is a testament to how we work with our community partners to get our community members the care they need, when they need it. With co-responders on call, we are on track to make Lincoln the safest and healthiest capital city in America.”
Joining Mayor Gaylor Baird at the news conference were:
- Michon Morrow, LPD Chief
- Sändra Washington, City Council Chair
- Amber Dirks, CenterPointe Senior Director of Community Response and Co-Responder Program Manager
- Topher Hansen, CenterPointe CEO
- Ben Kopsa, LPD Captain
- Brittanie Scarbrough, CenterPoint Co-Responder Therapist
The initial three years of the Co-Responder Program are funded by a $550,000 Bureau of Justice Assistance grant with a match of $221,278 from the City’s budgeted general funds. Nearly 85% of those funds pay co-responder salaries. Funding for the Co-Responder Program also includes a $200,000 federal grant from the COPS Program for Promoting Access to Crisis Teams.
Chief Morrow said that since May 2024, LPD has responded to more than 12,000 mental health-related calls for service, which represents about 12% of the total calls for LPD service during that time. Nearly 4,000 of the mental health-related calls required officers to place individuals into emergency protective custody, she said, which reinforces the need for co-responders.
“The growth of these partnerships allows us to broaden our focus, ensuring we are not just addressing criminal behavior but are also nurturing the well-being of our entire community,” Morrow said.
Kopsa said both officers and co-responders are reporting positive experiences about the program and continue to collect data that helps staff improve performance. Embedded at LPD, co-responders receive calls for service through a request by LPD officers or by monitoring emergency radio channels.
“Our vision is for these professionals to be active in the field as much as they are needed on a call, while also doing community engagement, when possible, to get feedback that informs their work and builds relationships with both officers and the community,” Kopsa said.
Dirks said each co-responder completes 120 hours of law enforcement training prior to joining officers in the field. Training covers areas such as radio procedures, de-escalation techniques, emergency protective custody statutes, use of force and tactics, and other relevant topics.
Since the program began, co-responders have responded to 23 calls for service, in which 15 individuals received assistance that did not require further emergency intervention, Dirks said. Sixty-nine percent of those also received follow-up support, she said.
“These outcomes show the real impact of early, community-based response – lives stabilized, crises de-escalated, and support delivered where it’s needed most,” Dirks said. “The data we collect helps us understand community needs, identify gaps, and make this program even stronger. We are committed to adapting to better serve our community and improve outcomes for those in need.”
Hansen said that after only few weeks of service, co-responders are already making a noticeable difference in the community.
“By embedding behavioral health professionals within law enforcement response, we are helping to de-escalate crises, connect individuals with care, and reduce unnecessary hospitalizations and justice system involvement,” Hansen said. “This is what meaningful collaboration looks like – bringing together behavioral health professionals and law enforcement to create real solutions for our community.”
Scarbrough said the goal of co-responders is to de-escalate the situation, provide compassionate support, and help connect individuals to the services they need – or re-establish connections they may have lost.
“We’re not just there for the moment – we’re helping to break down stigma around mental health and encourage people to seek ongoing care. Because of this approach, we’ve helped individuals remain safely in their homes, avoid hospitalization or incarceration, and re-engage them with vital services,” Scarbrough said.
Washington said the Co-Responder Program represents years of work by the Council and LPD to enhance their response to calls for service involving a mental health challenge.
“What sets the City’s Co-Responder program apart is that LPD and CenterPointe can draw on each other’s strengths, resources, and expertise to bring the greatest benefit to residents most in need of mental health support,” Washington said.
For more information on CenterPointe, visit centerpointe.org. For more information on LPD, visit police.lincoln.ne.gov.