Albuquerque Community Safety Responders Support Veteran in Crisis Through Skilled Communication and Coordinated Care
ACS teams work with family and Mobile Crisis Clinicians to ensure safety
ALBUQUERQUE - Albuquerque Community Safety (ACS) recently helped a local veteran experiencing a severe behavioral health crisis get to safety after responding to a welfare check initiated by his fiancée, who was out of state and worried about sudden changes in his behavior.
When ACS Behavioral Health Responders (BHR) Sherri Miera and Isaiah Curtis arrived, they found the middle-aged veteran hallucinating, disoriented, unsteady on his feet. He was showing signs of possible alcohol-related detox after starting a new medication. He appeared extremely fatigued and disoriented, telling responders he had run a marathon earlier in the day and that his father had visited him, statements his fiancée later confirmed were incorrect.
Concerned about the inconsistencies and the rapid shift in his behavior, ACS responders were able to quickly assess and collaborate with an ACS Mobile Crisis Team Clinician, who advised that the man receive immediate medical evaluation.
After receiving additional guidance, responders Miera and Curtis returned to the residence where they heard the man calling for them. After not finding him in the home, they found the veteran attempting to climb into an elevated closet space using a ladder.
Recognizing the urgency, the ACS responders calmly and quickly intervened, using de-escalation skills to calm him, explain their concerns, and help him reorient.
“This situation showed how important it is to work with family to understand what someone’s baseline might be,” said ACS BHR Miera. “Our goal was to meet him where he was, earn his trust, and keep him safe.”
With the responders’ support, the veteran agreed to be transported to the VA Hospital for a psychiatric evaluation. The responders helped him get dressed and into the vehicle while keeping his fiancée updated throughout the situation.
“By coordinating with our Mobile Crisis Team and staying in communication with his fiancée, we were able to make decisions that centered his wellbeing,” said ACS BHR Curtis. “That teamwork made all the difference.”
“ACS teams continue to prove the value of having trained behavioral health responders available for calls just like this,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “Their empathy, calm communication, and quick action helped prevent harm and ensured this veteran received the care he needed.”
Calls from concerned family members or friends who are out of state are common for ACS, and each one is handled with the same level of compassion, patience, and commitment to safety.
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About Albuquerque Community Safety: ACS is the City of Albuquerque’s third branch of public safety. Responders take calls for service involving behavioral health, substance use, and other non-criminal and non-medical issues. Request an ACS Responder by calling 911 for emergencies and 311 for non-emergencies.