Mental Health Professional Deployment Promises Alternative to Police-First Approach in Behavioral Emergencies
The Mamdani administration is directing a comprehensive reform of police response to mental health crises, emphasizing that police officers should not be the sole responders to behavioral emergencies where no active threat is present. This directive comes following a recent Queens police shooting of a 22-year-old man experiencing mental illness, reigniting debate about whether armed police response is appropriate for people in psychiatric distress.
The Chakraborty Incident as Catalyst
The shooting of Jabez Chakraborty on January 26 occurred after his parents called 911 requesting an ambulance for a son in emotional distress. Officers arrived at the residence and, according to official reports, the young man ran at officers with a knife, prompting officers to open fire. The Chakraborty family stated they requested medical assistance, not police intervention, highlighting the disconnect between 911 calls and police response protocols.
NYPD Response Data
According to city data, the NYPD responds to approximately 180,000 calls annually involving emotionally disturbed persons (EDPs). This massive volume overwhelms police resources and diverts officers from serious crime prevention. Many of these calls involve individuals in crisis who pose no danger to themselves or others but require mental health support rather than criminal justice response.
B-HEARD Program Expansion
The city has a pilot program called B-HEARD (Behavioral Health Emergency Assistance Response Division) that deploys paramedics and mental health workers from NYC Health + Hospitals to mental health emergencies without police involvement. The program has demonstrated success in responding to mental health calls safely without police. The Mamdani administration is committed to scaling B-HEARD citywide to respond to all appropriate calls.
Deployment Strategy
The administration’s initial strategy prioritizes deploying B-HEARD teams to the subway stations with highest levels of mental health crises. Mental health workers will respond to individuals experiencing psychiatric emergencies in subway settings, providing assistance and connecting people to services without police involvement.
Training and Staffing
The administration is investing in hiring and training additional mental health professionals, paramedics, and peer counselors to staff expanded crisis response teams. Competitive wages and comprehensive benefits are essential to recruiting talented professionals to this demanding work.
Coordination with NYPD
While the administration emphasizes civilian mental health response, Mayor Mamdani has acknowledged that coordination with NYPD remains necessary in situations where weapons are present or violent threat is imminent. The administration is developing protocols to determine when situations require police presence and when civilian response alone is appropriate.
Alternative Models
The administration is studying successful alternative models from other cities including the CAHOOTS program in Eugene, Oregon, which responds to thousands of calls annually without police involvement. The city is learning from these models to develop approaches tailored to NYC’s scale and diversity.
Mental Health First Aid Training
The city is expanding mental health first aid training for police and other city workers. This training emphasizes de-escalation, recognition of mental health symptoms, and connection to mental health services. Learn more about crisis response alternatives, NYC B-HEARD program, and mental health resources.
