Sign on today to show your support for #Transforming911 to #ReimaginePublicSafety.
From a young age, we're told that when we're in crisis we should call 911 to get help. However, our current 911 system, with its agonizingly long wait times, is dysfunctional and inefficient at best. At worst, 911 is dangerous and deadly, forcing us to make the high-stakes decision to call 911 and dispatch armed police to situations that they are not trained and not prepared for… or not calling 911 and getting no help at all.
For so many emergency situations in St. Louis, armed police are the only service that a resident can reach out to 24/7 for help—but it doesn't have to be that way. We believe in #Transforming911 to #ReimaginePublicSafety, and are calling St. Louis County to support and fund a 2-year Non-Police First Responder Pilot.
Across the country, people use 911 because it's often their only option, not necessarily because they want armed police to show up. The same is true in our region. Our research shows that in St. Louis County, calls for service for non-major crimes outnumber major crimes 4-to-1, which means that people are far more likely to call 911 for non-violent situations than for situations that involve violence.
It's time for St. Louis to catch up to the growing national movement toward community-based safety responses. We need people-centered and trauma-informed approaches to public safety that avoid escalation and incarceration. Non-Police First Responder programs divert 911 and non-emergency calls to unarmed, highly-trained, and compassionate service providers. They allow advocates and loved ones to request help from a mental health professional, social worker, EMT, or peer support specialists… all without involving armed police.
Responders are equipped to conduct wellness checks, use de-escalation strategies, and administer medical treatment. In addition to providing mental health support and resources for harm reduction, they can also offer in-the-moment assistance through clean clothing and care kits, phone calls to community supporters, and transportation to service providers. Responders assess and address the real needs of 911 callers and their loved ones through an individualized approach, rather than pushing a person toward two limited and expensive options: the emergency room or the criminal-legal system.
A Non-Police First Responder Program in St. Louis County would represent an important step away from the traditional arrest-and-incarcerate system, towards a program that provides holistic services and actually keeps our communities safe. With federal funds available through ARPA and the People's Response Act, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create the world that we'd like to see, which includes centering people and creating #RealPublicSafety.
Cities that have implemented non-police first responder programs experience significant cost savings from lower rates of emergency room and jail use, as well as streamlined connections between residents and social service providers. Non-police first responder programs are safe and effective, with pilot programs across the country reporting no negative incidents nor any referrals to police when non-police first-responders answer a call, rather than an armed law enforcement official.
A Non-Police First Responder Program in St. Louis would help our community achieve:
- Faster 911 call response times;
- Immediate individualized, health-centered, and trauma-informed emergency responses;
- Streamlined connections between residents and service providers;
- Community-centered approaches to mental illness and substance use;
- Fewer interactions between residents and armed law enforcement officials; and
- Budget priorities that reflect community needs and offer non-carceral support to people most impacted by systemic racism.
St. Louisans cannot wait for yet another tragedy to catalyze changes to our public safety system. It's time to start #Transforming911 to #ReimaginePublicSafety, and fund a life-saving 2-year Non-Police First Responder Pilot in St. Louis County.