The Windsor Police Service Board is asking the federal and provincial governments to encourage local mental health providers to reassess their operations to better serve the community.
Windsor Police Chief Jason Bellaire said most mental health calls fall on the shoulders of police when there are other agencies better equipped to handle them. Unfortunately, many of those services don't operate around the clock or don't have immediate help available.
"What we need to do is get some initiative in terms of pulling all of those partners to the table and saying, you're funded provincially, you're funded federally we need you to adjust your methods of operation," said Councillor Jo-Anne Gignac, WPSB member.
Six weeks ago, the Windsor Police Service launched a pilot project with Windsor Regional Hospital that paired registered nurses with police officers to address the immediate needs of people in the downtown core facing mental health or addiction issues. In the first five weeks, they've had 127 interactions and averted 64 E.R. visits
That program is being fully funded by the Windsor Police Service and Windsor Regional Hospital.
Chief Bellaire said while the program is making a difference downtown and with Emergency Room wait times, more needs to be done.
"Should we be asking other partners or other agencies to contribute in a more meaningful way, reconfigure their strategies, maybe take a look at their infrastructure of the entire organization and decide what do people need," said Bellaire.
