APD Releases Crisis Intervention Unit Data Book
September 6, 2019
The Albuquerque Police Department published its 2019 Crisis Intervention Unit Data Book that shows how the Department addresses individuals in crisis.
“Our efforts to change the culture at the Police Department are giving our officers more tools to have successful interactions with individuals in crisis,” Mayor Tim Keller said. “This approach, in addition to making behavioral health services more accessible, is helping us build a safer city and keep other critical resources targeted on violent crime.”
The report shows the first decrease in behavioral health-related calls in recent years. The number of calls nearly doubled between 2010 and 2017 when there were 6,535. That number dropped slightly in 2018 to 6,302.
“We continue to invest in quality training for field officers, while building and expanding our successful Mobile Crisis Teams that go to high-priority mental health emergency calls,” APD Chief Mike Geier said. “We are also being proactive with a team of home visit detectives and clinicians who work with people and attempt to prevent crisis situations.”
The report also shows:
- Calls related to suicide represented the vast majority of behavioral health-related calls for service.
- Most individuals encountered during crisis calls (90%) were not armed with a weapon.
- In 72% of encounters during crisis calls, individuals were transported to emergency services; individuals were arrested only 3% of encounters.
- Officers did not use force in 99% of crisis encounters.