Three years after launch, Grandview co-responder program shows promising results

Jun 09, 2025
| Posted in
Safety & Security
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Initiative pairs police officers and behavioral health professionals with the goal of diverting people in crisis from the criminal justice system

Three years after joining the Eastern Jackson County (EJC) Co-Responder Program, the Grandview, Missouri, Police Department (PD) is reporting a positive impact on serving people with mental health needs. The program pairs mental health professionals to respond alongside officers to active 911 calls that involve mental health, substance use or a related crisis. 

Jacob Gross, administrative sergeant with Grandview PD, says the program helps increase access to mental health services and saves time responding officers spend managing behavioral health crises. “To have co-responders, team members who know the resources, the facilities, phone numbers, the right people to call, is a resource no police officer can ever develop,” said Gross. “With more people getting proper care, we’re seeing fewer individuals have frequent encounters with police, fire and EMS.

“To have co-responders, team members who know the resources, the facilities, phone numbers, the right people to call, is a resource no police officer can ever develop.”

Sgt. Jacob Gross, Grandview Police Department
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Chelsea Whitcomb and Stephen Watts, mental health co-responders from ReDiscover serve Grandview, Missouri.

Heather Mason, ReDiscover’s program manager over mobile crisis response services, says it’s critical to meet people where they're at, both emotionally and physically, during a crisis. “People are most vulnerable in that immediate 911 setting. They haven't had time to de-escalate, to process,” said Mason. “We’re able to connect with them during that really vulnerable time and hopefully give them a glimmer of hope, help save a life for that moment.”

“People are most vulnerable in that immediate 911 setting. They haven't had time to de-escalate, to process. We’re able to connect with them during that really vulnerable time.” 

Heather Mason, Program Manager, ReDiscover

From July 2022 through May 2025, the Grandview Co-Responders have actively supported law enforcement on approximately 1,425 calls for service involving individuals experiencing behavioral health, substance use or related crises. In addition to field response, co-responders conduct detention assessments for individuals in custody to determine appropriate behavioral health interventions or support services. Through these collaborative efforts, the program has successfully diverted 20% of cases from emergency departments and 5% from incarceration, ensuring individuals receive timely, appropriate care in the least restrictive environment.  

The co-responder program is a partnership between two community behavioral health centers - ReDiscover and Burrell Behavioral Health, the cities of Blue Springs, Buckner, Grain Valley, Grandview, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Oak Grove and Raytown, Missouri, and the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC). Funded through 2026 by a grant through the Bureau of Justice Assistance Connect and Protect: Law Enforcement Behavioral Health Response Program, MARC administers the grant and assesses the program’s outcomes and impact. 

For questions about the EJC Co-Responder Program, please contact MARC. Learn more about ReDiscover’s co-responder services here.

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Chelsea Whitcomb of ReDiscover receives the 2023 Co-Responder of the Year Award from the Mid-America Crisis Intervention Team. (Pictured with Chelsea is Heather Mason, ReDiscover's program manager over mobile crisis response services.)
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