SHOWCASE : BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ( BHLEU )
The Behavioral Health Law Enforcement Unit ( BHLEU ) initially began as an ancillary program , bringing together specially trained Behavioral Health Response Officers and clinicians provided through a partnership with My Health My Resources of Tarrant County ( MHMR ). When requested , an officer and a clinician could ride out to a call together as a “ coresponse ” unit .
It ’ s estimated that one out of every ten calls for service Arlington PD responds to has some type of mental health component associated with it . Individuals with behavioral health challenges are vulnerable members of the community who deserve to be treated with dignity and respect . Police are often the front-line responders to those struggling with a behavioral health crisis – and those responses can be unpredictable . That ' s why nearly a decade ago , APD began looking for ways officers could collaborate with mental health professionals to respond to and successfully resolve these types of calls .
The department currently has 33 Behavioral Health Response Officers and 5 staff from MHMR operating within the city . As the demand for their services grew , it became increasingly clear that additional resources were needed .
In 2022 , the department created an expanded , full-time BHLEU made up of 1 Lieutenant , 1 Sergeant , 4 Behavioral Health Response Officers , 4 Crisis Intervention Specialists , 1 Community Outreach Officer , and 1 Intel & Assessment Officer . Members wear non-traditional uniforms and ride in unmarked cars to promote humanistic interactions with those facing behavioral health challenges .
The Community Outreach Officer works with Arlington ’ s homeless population , partnering with other city departments and community organizations to connect unsheltered individuals to available resources .
BHLEU members also serve as subject matter experts for the department ’ s training center and provide instruction to all officers on Crisis Intervention Training . Since launching in July 2022 , BHLEU members have responded to more than 540 calls for service , provided more than 215 consultations , and conducted more than 230 follow-ups with community members .
18 | 2022 Annual Report