MPD Diversion Task Force meeting focuses on response to calls that don't involve public safety

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Milwaukee Police Department Diversion Task Force has a lot of homework after their first meeting. 

Earlier this year, the 17-member group was charged with creating a master plan for responding to calls that don't involve threats to public safety. 

"More of a holistic response around mental health, substance abuse, homeless, those types of efforts that really shouldn't be responded to with any form of enforcement but really with a form of treatment or services," said Jamaal Smith, manager of the Office of Violence Prevention. 

To start, the task force will look at how Milwaukee's current 911 call system works.

They'll also review models from other cities to see how to best handle service calls.

The task force's next meeting is tentatively scheduled for July 8.