BETTENDORF, Iowa (KWQC) -Bettendorf Police are getting ready to launch a new co-responder program aimed at improving how the department responds to mental health crises.
The department recently got a $114,673 federal grant to support the initiative, which will pair officers with a mental health professional who can respond alongside police during crisis situations.
Chief Doug Scott said the co-responder will work directly with officers in the field, responding to calls and helping connect people with resources after a crisis has been resolved.
“Many times they’ll likely be riding along in a squad car with the police, responding to 911 calls in those type of crisis, but also has the ability to assist with follow up, getting more resources to individuals after the fact, after the crisis is resolved, and then trying to link them up with other community partners to help them get the services that they need,” Scott said.
Scott said officers often respond to calls that may appear to be criminal in nature but have underlying mental health or behavioral health challenges.
Because of that, he said the department is looking to bring additional expertise into situations where traditional law enforcement responses may not be enough.
“Our officers are here to serve, but their background is not in mental health,” Scott said. “They don’t have that same clinical experience. They don’t have that same background that a mental health practitioner, somebody who’s been in that space, who has that acute training, that operates and lives and breathes that.”
The goal, Scott said, is not only to address an immediate crisis but also help prevent future ones.
“To have a response with a mental health professional who can help with behavioral mental disorders, help with de-escalation, help with crisis, and then on the back end, be able to link people with services,” Scott said.
The concept is not new to the Quad Cities.
Davenport has operated a similar co-responder model since 2022 and expanded the program through a partnership with Vera French Mental Health Center in 2024.
Officials with that program said one of its biggest benefits has been reducing repeat calls for service by connecting people with long-term support.
“It’s very easy for individuals to be stuck in a cycle of jail, hospital, homeless shelter, things like that with no real end in sight,” said Chris Koepke, lead crisis co-responder with Vera French Community Mental Health Center. “Us collaborating directly with DPD, the officers, and we are able to work together to break that cycle for them and get them connected to appropriate care.”
Since launching, Davenport’s co-responder team has responded to about 2,200 calls.
“Of those calls, we’ve made 69 arrests, so it’s literally about 3.1%,” Lt. Jason Ellerbach of the Davenport Police Department said. “For our mission for the co-responder program is to have a positive de-escalation. Some of those arrests that we’ve had to make were mandatory.”
Scott said Bettendorf’s grant will fund a mental health professional for the program’s first year while the department works to get the initiative up and running.
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