Santa Cruz Local

Residents’ recent calls to reduce police presence and funding in Santa Cruz County come at the same time police say they are overburdened with calls for mental health care and homelessness. We explore the aftermath of two recent, fatal police shootings in our county that involved mental health — and how harm could be avoided. Looking toward solutions, we examine a program in Oregon that dispatches mental health care workers to crises without police. We talk to a Santa Cruz County 911 dispatcher and law enforcement leaders about the advantages and disadvantages of crisis response without police. Join Santa Cruz Local's email newsletter: mailchi.mp/santacruzlocal/forward Support local journalism with a Santa Cruz Local membership: www.santacruzlocal.org/membership Episode transcript: www.santacruzlocal.org