Unarmed Community Teams Respond to 911 Calls in Nearly 100 U.S. Cities
Across nearly 100 U.S. cities, unarmed community response teams, often staffed by mental health clinicians and peer specialists, are being dispatched to certain 911 calls as an alternative to police. These programs, like Durham's HEART initiative, aim to de-escalate situations…
Louisville, KY, September 22, 2026 —
Unarmed community response teams are increasingly being deployed to certain 911 calls in nearly 100 cities across the United States, offering an alternative to traditional police intervention. These initiatives typically involve professionals such as mental health clinicians and peer specialists who are trained to handle specific types of calls.
The primary objective of these programs is to de-escalate situations that may involve mental health crises, issues related to homelessness, or incidents of trespassing. By providing a specialized, non-law enforcement response, cities aim to address these complex social issues more effectively and with greater sensitivity.
One notable example of such an initiative is Durham’s HEART (Health, Education, and Response Team) program. This program, like others across the nation, seeks to divert calls that do not require an armed police presence towards a more appropriate and trained professional team. The hope is to provide better support for individuals experiencing crises and reduce the burden on law enforcement resources.
Early indications and studies suggest potential benefits from these community response models. These reported advantages include a reduction in arrests made during incidents where these teams are involved, potentially leading to more constructive outcomes for individuals in distress. Furthermore, there are indications that these programs may contribute to increased public trust within the communities they serve.
The specific details regarding the number of personnel involved in each city, the exact funding mechanisms for these programs, and the precise metrics for ‘reduced arrests’ or ‘increased public trust’ were not provided in the summary. However, the trend indicates a growing national movement towards re-evaluating emergency response protocols for non-violent, crisis-based calls.
The expansion of these unarmed response teams reflects a broader effort in many municipalities to find innovative solutions for public safety that prioritize community well-being and mental health support. The range of services these teams provide is tailored to the specific needs of the populations they encounter, aiming for resolution and assistance rather than solely enforcement.
Story summarized from the original created by Meg Anderson on www.lpm.org, see more information here.
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