COLUMBUS – A majority of people responding to requests for input from Columbus City Council are in favor of changing the way police and other agencies respond to some 911 calls to include trained crisis-intervention personnel.
Of the 4,000 respondents to the Reimagine Public Safety effort, nearly ¾ preferred replacing some police responses with trained crisis responders and said creating partnerships between the Division of Police and other agencies is important.
“The status quo is not acceptable, and as we implement change, it is critical to hear the voices and respond to the diverse experiences of every resident to move our city in a better, more equitable direction,” council President Pro Tempore Elizabeth Brown said.
Residents responded to the online survey and submitted ideas via focus groups and during town hall-style discussions from December through early February.
When asked whether alternative crisis responses should be considered for 911 calls, 60% of respondents said an alternative should be used for mental health crisis calls and more than 50% indicate alternatives should be used for mental health situations, suicide calls where weapons are not involved, homeless services and wellness checks.
Asked what should be the city’s top priorities when addressing public safety, 81% getting to the root causes of violence should be the top priority and 77% said housing, economic stability and public health.
More than half of the respondents also cited expanding job training, reentry programs, youth initiatives and violence prevention programs.