GOC is honored to work with to the Co-responder teams of our area. These special partnership is made up of one Law Enforcement Officer and one licensed mental health professional. They are dispatched to people who are in a mental health crisis or distress. This helps distinguish a mental health incident from a criminal act. It is a shame when someone is jailed when they really need medical attention for a mental health issue. These teams also serve victims experiencing trauma.

The Gainesville Police Dept. and Meridian teamed up for the first co-responder team a few years ago. Now, GPD has four such teams. Alachua County Sheriff’s Office recently added one such team, as did the University of Florida Police.

We are lucky and proud to live in a community that is so forward thinking and has such dedicated public servants like these professionals.