To effectively re-envision public safety and move away from the arrest-and-incarcerate model of public safety, we have to commit to pairing the right professional with the right situation instead of depending on the police for any and all of society's problems. 

As Alderwoman of the 3rd Ward, I will work to bring and fully fund a robust community care model like the STAR program or CAHOOTS to St Louis.

Imagine someone you love having a mental health crisis or an overdose, and when you call 911, instead of the police, who are not trained in de-escalation tactics to handle these types of calls, a medical or healthcare professional who is properly trained to handle the situation is present instead. That loved one met with care and compassion with professionally trained assistance instead of the police, and the threat of incarceration makes all the difference to families, neighborhoods, and communities.

As Alderwoman of the 3rd Ward, I will work to bring and fully fund a robust community care model like the STAR program or CAHOOTS to St Louis.

A non-police response model is not new or novel, and it’s currently being successfully implemented in other cities all over the country. We have a version in St. Louis already operated through BHR called Clinicians and Cops, which has been very effective in reducing the number of people who are incarcerated after a mental health crisis. In addition, a community care model anchored by Forward Through Ferguson was piloted in St. Louis County.