Cape Girardeau police to take over Co-Responder Program from Community Counseling Center
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) – The Cape Girardeau Police Department will take over operations and responsibility of the Co-Responder Program currently run by the Community Counseling Center.
The Community Counseling Center was awarded a grant through U.S. Department of Justice in January 2022.
The Connect and Protect Grant permitted CCC to partner with Cape Girardeau Police Department to embed two behavioral health professionals within the police department as co-responders to assist with response to potential behavioral health calls received.
CCC hired two co-responders by January 2023 who immediately began working with Cape Girardeau Police Department.
Both CCC and the Police Department recognized the benefit of these positions. Leaders from both groups began discussing the sustainability last year.
Cape Girardeau police expressed interest in taking over operations of the program and the employment of the two co-responders.
The police department secured funding for the co-responder positions for fiscal year 2025 starting July 1.
The police department will take over full operations and responsibility of the program beginning July 23.
“The success of our collaborative co-responder program is to be celebrated,” said Cape Girardeau Police Chief Wes Blair. “Working together, we have significantly improved crisis intervention and mental health support within the community. This collaboration has enhanced public safety and well-being, demonstrating the positive impact of integrated law enforcement and mental health services.”
“CCC is proud we were able to bring this service to the community which has shown positive results,” said Community Counseling Center’s CEO Wendy Ice. “We are also proud to have had partnered with Cape Girardeau Police Department on this endeavor and appreciate their willingness and dedication to addressing the behavioral health needs of the community, as shown by their commitment to continuing the Co-Responder Unit under their full operation. We wish them nothing but further success.”
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