‘There’s a great need’: WFPD crisis response team responds to over 300 calls during testing phase, now officially in service

WICHITA FALLS ( KFDX/KJTL ) — Wichitians have reported having about six bad mental health days in a 30-day span.

That's higher than the state and national average.

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The Wichita Falls Police Department is launching its first-ever crisis response team to help citizens with mental health issues.

"It's okay to ask for help," C.A.R.T. mental health clinician Marcela Lopez said.

It's an effort to boost mental health care.

"I think there's a great need for what we're doing right now," C.A.R.T. mental health officer Christopher McDowell said.

The department officially unveiled its Crisis Aid Response Team, or C.A.R.T, to the public.

It's been a project for the department for nearly three years.

The goal is to provide mental health care on the scene instead of involving justice.

McDowell said the month-long beta testing numbers show the need for the unit.

"I knew we had a lot of mental health issues, but the volume, once you start, concentrate on it was more than I thought it would be," McDowell said.

The unit received over 300 calls during the beta run. Two arrests were made due to outstanding warrants, but the unit helped those receive needed care, including two emergencies.

"Wichita Falls is the highest calls for suicide. And that is during the operation hours, you know, for during this month period that doesn't include, like, the weekends on calls and after hours on calls," Lopez said.

Lopez said the unit's goal is to reduce crisis calls and increase follow-ups with those in need.

"About 73 percent of those calls were follow-ups, and 30 percent of those calls were crisis. So we're having a high percentage of followups and less, crisis calls," Lopez said.

Police Chief Manuel Borrego said the beta numbers may be a small sample size, but they paint a clear picture of the need beyond the two-year grant the department received.

Borrego said success is going to be on the call volume for the department.

"Did we lessen the number of calls that we have to go to lessen the number of arrests that we had to make on these individuals?" Borrego said. "I think if we can show that and I can tell the council officers have more time to respond to other citizens' needs."

McDowell's goal is to provide effective results that prove it benefit the council to keep the team.

"We're one team right now, and we could do more with another unit right now, but we still have a lot of footwork to do," McDowell said.

As the C.A.R.T. unit loads up to help those in crisis.

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