Brooklyn Park's "Alternate Response Team" pairs social workers and paramedics on mental health calls
BROOKLYN PARK, Minn. – A Twin Cities suburb is leading the way in Minnesota on responding to mental health 911 calls. Brooklyn Park now sends a soc...
BROOKLYN PARK, Minn. – A Twin Cities suburb is leading the way in Minnesota on responding to mental health 911 calls. Brooklyn Park now sends a social worker and paramedic to calls that don't involve crimes being committed or threats of violence. "Situations like welfare checks or a mental health call or somebody who's overdosing or somebody who's homeless," said Nils Dybvig, the social worker leading the team. Dybvig and his partner will sometimes respond alone, but more often he says they go with Brooklyn Park officers, waiting nearby for confirmation it's safe.