The Future of 911: Embedding Mental Health in Public Safety Teams

One of the most impactful shifts in modern public safety is how cities are beginning to integrate behavioral health professionals directly into emergency response teams. Take Denver’s Support Team Assisted Response (STAR) program, for example. This innovative approach sends mental health clinicians and paramedics to certain 911 calls that don’t involve weapons or immediate threats. These include situations involving mental health crises, substance misuse, or homelessness. Since launching as a pilot in 2020, STAR has diverted thousands of calls away from traditional law enforcement, giving police more time to focus on urgent enforcement needs while ensuring individuals in crisis get the specialized care they need. Not only does this reduce the potential for escalation, but it also helps connect people with long-term support, creating better outcomes for individuals and the wider community¹.

For cities thinking about launching similar initiatives, strong collaboration across agencies is essential. In Denver, STAR is a joint effort between the Department of Public Health & Environment, the Police Department, and local nonprofits like WellPower. Setting clear protocols, training 911 dispatchers to identify which calls are right for STAR, and securing ongoing funding are all key to making it work. Communities looking to replicate STAR’s success should start by assessing local needs and bringing stakeholders to the table early on. That way, the program can be tailored to fit the unique challenges and demographics of each area, while keeping equity and safety front and center².

Enhancing Infrastructure to Prevent Crime and Injury

Sometimes, making a city safer starts with how streets and public spaces are designed. Denver is increasingly leaning on the principles of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) to help reduce crime in both neighborhoods and business districts. CPTED strategies can be as simple as installing better lighting, clearing sightlines, or bringing life to underused spaces through community events and programming. A good example is the city’s investment in redesigning bus stops and pedestrian corridors to make them more visible and less inviting for loitering, especially in areas where property crimes are more common³.

Traffic safety gets a boost from thoughtful design, too. Features like curb extensions, raised crosswalks, and protected bike lanes don’t just look nice, they actually help protect people walking or biking. These improvements are a big part of Vision Zero Denver’s engineering work and have shown real results in reducing crashes. Residents can play a role here as well. By partnering with the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI), neighborhood groups can request safety audits and push for changes where needed. If you notice repeated speeding or a dangerous intersection in your area, reporting it through tools like 311 or PocketGov can help prioritize fixes where they’re needed most⁴.

Data-Driven Accountability and Performance Measurement

Transparency and accountability are cornerstones of public safety and data plays a big role in both. In Denver, continued investments in performance dashboards and open data platforms help make safety efforts more visible and effective. The Denver Police Department shares crime stats, use-of-force data, and response times online, giving both residents and decision-makers a clearer picture of what’s happening. Behind the scenes, leadership uses Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to track how officers are deployed, how cases are resolved, and how well they’re engaging with the community, all to make sure resources are lining up with the city’s safety priorities⁵.

But data can do more than just track performance. When public safety data is combined with other information, like housing instability trends or EMS call volumes, it can reveal the deeper issues driving crime and disorder. That kind of insight allows for smarter, more preventative acti