Milwaukee leaders push for team of mental health experts to help handle 911 calls

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- There's a new push in the city of Milwaukee for a team of unarmed first responders.

The resolution was discussed Thursday morning, Oct. 1, at the Public Health and Safety Committee meeting.

Unarmed responders would be mental health experts on call to help handle 911 calls.

"We've now mandated mental health training in the wake of the death of Dontre Hamilton, but a police officer with mental health training is not the same thing as a mental health expert."

Leaders say they want to work with the police department, the Fire and Police Commission and the fire department to develop the program.