About eight out of every 10 Michigan county sheriffs and local police chiefs support having some type of specialized emergency response that would include professionals in fields like mental health and social work for some 911 calls, according to Michigan Public Policy Survey results published this month.
A few Michigan cities have already begun implementing hybrid or alternative emergency response programs. The programs are becoming more common across the country, with 44 of the 50 largest U.S. cities having an alternative 911 emergency response program, according to a March 2024 study.