n 2024, a mid-sized city launched two new civilian roles within its police department to strengthen community trust and improve public safety: Community Outreach Specialists and a Mental Health Co-Responder. These initiatives address the disconnect between law enforcement and residents—particularly youth and individuals in crisis—by emphasizing prevention, relationships, and coordinated care.

The Community Outreach Specialists, funded through a grant, organize programs and events that humanize officers and build trust through positive interactions between officers and the public. They partner with schools, social service agencies, faith groups, and local organizations to create educational and recreational opportunities, encourage open dialogue, and build trust—especially with young people. Signature events, such as National Night Out, now draws over 30 agencies together and is growing resident participation.

The Mental Health Co-Responder program embeds a behavioral health professional in the department to assist during crisis calls and provide follow-up care. In its first six months, the co-responder assisted on hundreds of calls, often independently, and connected many individuals to needed services—reducing unnecessary arrests and hospitalizations. The majority of her work, however, involves crucial follow-up care, connecting individuals to the resources they need after initial officer contact. Officers also receive Crisis Intervention Team training to expand department-wide capacity for empathetic, de-escalatory responses.

In a time of limited municipal resources, the city has prioritized external funding to implement models that improve community well-being and increase public trust. Rather than reacting to crime alone, this strategy invests in relationships, prevention, and coordinated care. The result is a stronger, safer, and more connected city.

Impact or how it will be measured:

The city evaluates progress using both qualitative and quantitative data to assess whether the programs are achieving their goals of improving community trust, strengthening relationships, and providing effective crisis response.

• Outreach: Tracks attendance at events and uses direct feedback from residents, schools, and partner organizations to adapt programming. Event participation is another key metric. Since the creation of the outreach positions, event participation has increased since the roles were created, indicating stronger community engagement.

• Mental Health Response:  The department tracks the number and types of calls the co-responder assists with, both independently and alongside officers. Additionally, follow-up work is documented to determine how many individuals were successfully connected to services after a crisis. This information helps the city assess outcomes such as reduced arrests, fewer emergency hospitalizations, and improved access to care for individuals experiencing mental health challenges.