ALAMOSA — “This is absolutely one of the best programs I’ve experienced. It’s a game changer.” That’s how Chief George Dingfelder of the Alamosa Police Department (APD) opened a discussion about APD’s co-responder program when he, Alamosa City Manager Heather Sanchez and APD Sgt. and co-responder supervisor William Squires, met with the SLV Board of Commissioners on Monday morning.
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ALAMOSA — “This is absolutely one of the best programs I’ve experienced. It’s a game changer.” That’s how Chief George Dingfelder of the Alamosa Police Department (APD) opened a discussion about APD’s co-responder program when he, Alamosa City Manager Heather Sanchez and APD Sgt. and co-responder supervisor William Squires, met with the SLV Board of Commissioners on Monday morning.
Created in 2022 under the leadership and supervision of Dingfelder’s predecessor, APD Chief Ken Anderson, the co-responder program is comprised of a part-time case manager and two full time co-responders – mental health professionals who work with local law enforcement in the city of Alamosa to respond to calls involving mental and/or behavioral health issues.
“It’s had a big impact on the way we interact and call for service,” Dingfelder said. “I’ve been in law enforcement for over 35 years and there have been so many things law enforcement has taken on that we shouldn’t have to.
“One example is dealing with people who have mental health issues. There have been shootings that probably shouldn’t have happened – one shooting I know shouldn’t have happened. A mental health person should have gone [on that call]. This program is a game changer.”
“There are two types of calls,” Sanchez said. “There are calls where someone is having a mental health crisis and there’s some risk to the public or to themselves, so APD has to be on site, as well. And there are non-emergent types of calls, with some people calling 911 ten times a day or more. It stresses ambulance services and others. The person clearly needs help but it’s not emergent. That’s where the co-responders come in. They’ll interact with a person and then follow up as needed.”
Prior to creation of the co-responder program, APD officers were, per an agreement between APD and SLV Behavioral Health Group (SLVBHG), reliant upon SLVBHG’s assistance from when intervening with an individual who was experiencing a mental health crisis.
It was not uncommon for officers to wait for long periods of time with, at times, slow response or no response at all. That situation prompted creation of the program.
“The system wasn’t working,” Sanchez said in a commitment to be transparent about the system.
“I’ll admit it’s been a struggle,” Dingfelder said. “At Monte Vista Police Department, we had struggles, too, but we’ve had meetings and it’s gotten better over the last few months. There’s been significant changes in what they can and can’t do.”
The county commissioners in the room's reaction indicated a consensus that a co-responder program benefited law enforcement. But how to make it happen was a different issue.
“This was a first,” Sanchez said. “We didn’t know what to do. As part of the grant, we had to have a behavior health partner to work with, so we worked with Valley-Wide. They helped with the job description, telling us what the job should pay, and advertising, and then interviewing. Once it was set up, we didn’t have to rely on them as much, but if we have questions, can ask.
“It’s also hard to hire mental health professionals in the Valley,” she continued. “It takes a unique personality – they’re not sitting behind a desk meeting clients in a controlled environment. They’re out there in the community interacting with people who have challenges. It takes a thick skin. It’s also different to work with police officers.”
When asked how it was funded, Sanchez said, “We were only able to start the program because of a federal grant that allowed APD to hire two co-responders and a case manager. When we first set it up, we had one co-responder be a supervisor who reported to the chief. But the chief gets pulled in a lot of directions and he couldn’t devote time.”
“The value of a co-responder is time spent out in the field so having the supervisor in the office isn’t the best use of time,” Dingfelder said. “But then we were able to have Sergeant Squires oversee the program. That was another game changer.”
Dingfelder had high praise for the noticeable reduction in non-emergent calls which freed up patrol officers and ambulance services to attend to more emergent needs. He also felt strongly that having the co-responders be a part of the police force was critical for passing on information and following up on cases.
Both he and Sanchez also praised the case manager who came with knowledge of existing systems and similar programs from her experience working on the Front Range. She is now teaching colleagues about different avenues to get individuals the help and support they might need.
Many of the commissioners in the room come from counties with Sheriff’s Offices that only have a few deputies.
“We only have four deputies,” one commissioner said, “and taking someone for an M1 is 72 miles away. Can we share services where you share some of your resources?”
M1 is a term for someone being involuntarily committed for up to 72 hours.
Dingfelder didn’t answer directly right away. “Rio Grande reached out to us, and we sent them some information on a program. But we already have an IGA with the jail to provide services 16 hours a week, so right now, we don’t have the resources to do that.”
There were other questions around shifts, logistics, the cost of the program ($245,000 per year) and other issues. It soon became clear that the need for the program was not a question. Finding the resources for such a program was.
But as the conversation continued, the idea of counties sharing expenses and resources to meet what they are also experiencing as a growing need seemed to take hold, at least a little.
When asked if there were any plans to discuss creating a regional co-responder program, Commissioner Vern Heersink indicated that it was up to the board to decide.