#5 Columbus – Proposed Charter Amendment
The Community Crisis Response Amendment. An amendment to the Columbus City Charter to enhance services for responses to 911 calls and other calls for assistance, including but not limited to crises pertaining to behavioral health, homelessness, and others that may be nonviolent, by deploying the most appropriate intervention available; establishing the framework for the creation of a department, division, or office to implement, develop, and sustain the community crisis response system; establishing an advisory board to make recommendations regarding the system; and outlining processes to fund, develop, implement, and sustain the system.PRO:Supporters say alternative response models may provide additional options for handling nonviolent situations, such as mental health or behavioral health crises. These approaches may help connect individuals to appropriate services and reduce reliance on law enforcement for certain types of calls.CON:Opponents express concern that non-police responders may not be equipped to handle situations that could become unsafe or escalate unexpectedly. They note that law enforcement may still be needed in some cases to address safety concerns or respond to violent situations.
