Eugene Police Department is introducing a new program that aims to improve safety in downtown Eugene by providing mental health-related calls with the necessary resources to prevent escalation and help individuals get on a path to wellness. This initiative, funded initially through the Community Safety Payroll Tax, has now received a $550,000 Bureau of Justice Assistance grant that will allow for the addition of a second co-responder and a peer support specialist.
The program collaborates with Lane County and complements CAHOOTS, a mobile crisis intervention service in Eugene. The addition of the co-responder and peer support specialist will enable police officers to address mental health-related calls more effectively in civilian clothes.
Police Chief Chris Skinner envisions expanding this program city-wide with Lane County’s plans to establish a stabilization center as an alternative to jail for individuals with behavioral health issues. By providing individuals with the necessary resources and support, Skinner believes that it will ultimately improve safety and overall sense of well-being in the community.