Methuen is a 23-square-mile city in Essex County with a population of 53,059.
The Methuen Police Department (MPD) and Front Line Services plan to embark on a collaborative effort to establish a crisis intervention team. Recognizing the imperative need to divert behavioral calls for service away from emergency rooms and the criminal justice system, MPD and Front Line Services plans to deploy a clinically trained team capable of addressing the community’s needs effectively. Moreover, Front Line Services has been instrumental in crafting a response model grounded in person-centered principles, offering sustained support to prevent crises and facilitate the establishment of enduring support networks. Through this partnership, MPD and Front Line Services strive to facilitate access to a clinician with a master’s level of training, directly assisting the community through crisis response and post-crisis outreach efforts. Cohort 2023.
Program Goals
- Reduce the reliance on law enforcement for behavioral health calls, minimizing unnecessary emergency room visits and criminal arrests
- Enhance connections to outpatient support services, fostering initial engagement in post-crisis cross-over/bridge supports
- Promote equitable access by providing culturally and linguistically competent services to the community
Key Partnership Organizations
Methuen Police Department | Front Line Services
Learn More
“This grant is a big deal for us, as it will enable us to create a comprehensive Mental Health Division within the Methuen Police Department, and to add a master’s level trained clinician to work with those in our community who experience crises. This will be a major improvement in our ability to compassionately and effectively deal with increasing numbers of mental health calls, all while providing services that can help reduce such calls for service by getting those in need connected with community resources.” (Methuen Police News, Nov. 28, 2023)
Police Chief Scott McNamara
Methuen Police Department