Co-Responder Program

The Brighton Police Department has a co-responder team through a partnership with Reaching HOPE, after receiving a $525,703 grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance in 2023.


Reaching Hope Logo

The three-year grant was awarded to support cross-system collaboration to improve public safety responses and outcomes for individuals with mental health or substance use disorders who come into contact with the justice system. The grant is on a cost-sharing schedule to allow the city to sustain the program once the grant award ends. 

The program pairs mental health clinicians with police officers to assist in helping people who are experiencing mental health crises. The co-responder program: 

  • Provides people with on-scene, evidence-based treatment options 
  • De-escalates individuals in crisis to reduce mental health hospitalizations 
  • Utilizes appropriate alternatives to arrest for individuals experiencing serious mental health and/or substance abuse crises
  • Connects individuals with local, ongoing, behavioral health and substance use treatment options

The co-responder program currently consists of two mental health clinicians, a case manager, police department supervisor, Reaching HOPE supervisor, project director, and researcher/evaluator. The research component of the project will allow the department to analyze data to ensure the CRP is effectively being deployed to meet the community’s needs.

CRP FLOW CHART

Meet the Team

Weeks, CodyDr. Cody Weeks, PhD

Mental Health Clinician

Duval, Bri

Dr. Brianna "Bri" Duval, PsyD

Mental Health Clinician

Johnson, CrystleCrystle Johnson

Case Manager

P1099217r2Monce Portillo

Co-Responder Supervisor, Patrol Division Commander

Dr. Ambra Born, PsyD, LP

Reaching HOPE Supervisor, Executive Director

P1088776r2Kimberly Messina

Co-Responder Project Director, Victim Services Manager