Norwood Police Chief Raises Concerns Over Proposed Cuts to Jail Diversion Co-Responder Program

Gov. Maura Healey’s proposed budget would reduce funding for the statewide program from approximately $19 million to about $4 million.

Chief Padden said the reduction could weaken a system that has helped police departments across Massachusetts better respond to mental health emergencies.

The Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association is urging Beacon Hill lawmakers to restore full funding for the state’s jail and arrest diversion program in the governor’s proposed budget.

"When someone calls 911 during a mental health crisis today, that response increasingly includes both a police officer and a trained clinician," Chief Padden said. "That approach allows us to de-escalate situations, connect people with services, and often avoid unnecessary arrests or hospitalizations. The co-responder model works."

The Jail Diversion Co-Responder Program has expanded across Massachusetts in recent years as police departments respond to a growing number of behavioral health emergencies. Police leaders say the program allows officers to partner with trained clinicians who can provide immediate assessment, crisis intervention, and connections to treatment services.

In Norwood, the Police Department partners with Riverside Community Care to embed a full-time clinician with the department. The clinician works alongside officers to respond to calls involving individuals experiencing mental health crises and follows up with families and residents after incidents.

Chief Padden said the partnership has helped resolve many situations through intervention and support rather than arrest or emergency hospitalization.

"Police officers are responding to more calls involving mental health and substance use challenges than ever before," Chief Padden said. "Those situations require more than enforcement. Having a clinician working side-by-side with our officers gives us the ability to provide the right response and connect people with the help they need."

Across Massachusetts, the co-responder model has diverted thousands of individuals from arrest and helped reduce unnecessary transports to emergency departments, according to program data. Police departments also report that the program allows officers to spend less time managing complex behavioral health situations without specialized support.

If the proposed funding cuts are approved, Chief Padden said many communities could lose access to embedded clinicians and co-response teams.

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"If this funding is reduced, departments will once again be asked to handle complex behavioral health crises without the resources that have made this program successful," Chief Padden said. "When there are no alternatives, the system often defaults to arrest or emergency commitment. That is not the best outcome for individuals, families or communities."

Chief Padden said maintaining funding for the program would allow police departments and clinicians to continue working together to provide a more effective response to mental health crises.

"This program represents what modern policing should look like," Chief Padden said. "It allows us to respond with care, compassion, and the right expertise while keeping people connected to services rather than the criminal justice system."

The state Legislature will review the governor’s proposed budget in the coming months.