Shreveport Police, Council on Alcohol & Drug Abuse enter partnership to address mental health crises

SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) - Two Shreveport agencies have entered into a partnership to support reforming Shreveport's crisis response system.

On Monday (Nov. 18), the Shreveport Police Department and the Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (CADA) signed a memorandum of understanding created by the Northwest Louisiana Crisis Response Coalition to support these efforts.

The coalition was launched in 2020 by LSU Health Shreveport and aims to develop a community-based crisis mental health response system that ensures public safety, delivers effective treatment for those in need and provides an alternative to arrest or hospitalization.

LSUHS officials say many 911 calls involve non-criminal concerns, yet police officers are routinely sent out to respond to these calls, resulting in a potentially harmful outcome. National data show 53%-75% of 911 calls do not involve a medical emergency or criminal behavior and, therefore, can potentially be solved by civilian-led supporters. This could potentially benefit those with behavioral health needs because traditional first responders may be unable to provide this type of care. Typically, 911 calls involving behavioral health concerns end in incarceration or hospitalization.

BREAKDOWN: The Frontline Response to the Mental Health Crisis

In Caddo Parish specifically, LSUHS says there were 299,939 emergency 911 calls made in 2023. Each of those calls requires police and medical response, yet many do not involve criminal behavior or medical needs. This places a burden on first responders and further demonstrates the need for a mobile crisis response team to help reduce the strain on first responders.

CADA has been chosen to provide mobile crisis response in northwest Louisiana, which includes Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne, DeSoto, Natchitoches, Red River, Sabine and Webster parishes.

To promote the use of CADA's services, LSUHS has started the Crisis Response Leadership Summit, led by Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux and LSUHS Chancellor Dr. David Guzick. The goal of this summit is to strengthen the crisis response partnership.