A new pilot program in Denver will have a mental health clinician and paramedic respond to mental health-related calls instead of police.
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The Support Team Assisted Response (STAR) was launched June 1 and operates Monday through Friday. KDVR-TV reports the program launched just as protest erupted throughout the nation over the killing of George Floyd.
The STAR program is modeled after a program in Eugene, Oregon, called CAHOOTS and officials would like to see the program in Denver expand around the clock.
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Denver Police uses a co-responder model where a mental health counselor and an officer respond to calls together.
The program will run for six months.