Milwaukee, WI – On World Mental Health Day, the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) is spotlighting its Crisis Assessment Response Teams (CART), designed to deliver compassionate, community-based responses to behavioral health crises.
According to the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office, CART pairs a sheriff’s deputy or police officer with a mental health clinician to respond to 911 calls involving individuals in crisis. The goal is to de-escalate situations, perform on-site clinical assessments, and connect individuals with voluntary treatment or mental health resources instead of relying on arrest or involuntary detention.
The initiative is a collaboration between the Sheriff’s Office, the Milwaukee Police Department, and the West Allis Police Department. Since MCSO joined the CART program in 2020, teams have provided crisis intervention services to 17 municipalities across Milwaukee County not already served by local CART units.
Sheriff Denita Ball previously discussed the program on the department’s “Behind the Badge” podcast, emphasizing how the approach offers a more effective and humane way to handle mental health emergencies.
The Sheriff’s Office shared the reminder Friday as part of a #FlashbackFriday post highlighting ongoing efforts to improve public safety and community health through collaboration and care-centered policing.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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