All local law enforcement agencies to refer calls to county Mobile Crisis Response Teams

José A. Álvarez

County of San Diego Communications Office

County behavioral health officials, law enforcement representatives and community partners announced May 12 that all of the region’s 911 dispatchers have signed on to a memorandum of understanding to refer certain mental health calls to the county’s Mobile Crisis Response Teams.

MCRTs began in January 2021 as a pilot in the North County. Since then, the non-law enforcement program has expanded countywide and responded to 1,277 referrals: 1,099 through the county’s Access and Crisis Line and 178 through referrals from law enforcement. Th...