Two successful partnerships to address addiction and mental health concerns in the city's core are being expanded.
The Nurse Police Team, in partnership with the Windsor Police Service and Windsor Regional Hospital, is being expanded to seven days a week.
Police Chief Jason Bellaire said the team's success affects the overall police service.
"We are getting to calls faster now than we have in many years, we're getting to 911 priority one calls faster. The workload on officers has reduced a little bit. We know that it's impactful and we know it's effective," said Bellaire.
A newly improved Crisis Response Team that partners police officers with social workers will also be operating seven days a week and adjusting its hours of operation.
This partnership with Hotel Dieu Grace Healthcare builds on previous partnerships like the Mobile Crisis Rapid Response Team (MCRRT) and the Community Outreach and Support Team (COAST) in the City of Windsor.
"It is time now, long overdue in fact, to revisit the models that are out there, to revisit the staffing structure and to evolve with the needs of the community," said Bill Marra, CEO of HDGH.
Last year, police responded to more than 3,078 calls for service involving people in crisis that's an increase of 11.3 per cent from 2022.
