Coastal Fort Lauderdale is the most populous city in Broward County with a population of 182,760.
The Fort Lauderdale Police Department aims to improve interactions with individuals experiencing a mental health or substance abuse crisis. To address this issue, the department has initiated a pilot Co-Responder program where a trained civilian accompanies an officer to incidents in the field, offering an alternative to arrest or hospitalization when appropriate. The primary goals of the program are to alter how officers respond to individuals in crisis, decreasing the number of individuals who encounter the criminal justice system, and ensuring public safety is maintained. Cohort 2023.
Program Goals
- Transform how officers handle situations involving individuals in crisis, particularly those with mental health or substance abuse disorders
- Decrease the number of individuals who are unnecessarily brought into the criminal justice system due to mental health or substance-related issues
- Maintain public safety while providing more compassionate and effective responses to individuals in crisis
Key Partnership Organizations
Fort Lauderdale Police Department | NAMI Florida