Nurse-police teams expanded as part of downtown Windsor revitalization

Nurse-police teams will be working the streets of downtown Windsor on a daily basis from now on — increasing support for those experiencing mental health crises or addiction issues.

At a news conference on Wednesday, Windsor Police Chief Jason Bellaire said the teams, made up of police and Windsor Regional Hospital staff, will now operate seven days a week from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. — up from three days weekly.

Additionally, he said Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare is also expanding its partnership with Windsor police by increasing their personnel complement, while the mobile crisis rapid response team has been merged with the COAST [Community Outreach and Support Team] to form a front-line focused Crisis Response Team (CRT).

"The results of these programs speak for themselves," Bellaire said, noting that the COAST teams diverted approximately 90 per cent of the clients they dealt with away from the emergency department.

"In its first year of operation, the nurse-police team referred over 900 people to community resources and support services, diverted more than 560 emergency department visits and delivered over 240 doses of naloxone," Bellaire said.

"Perhaps most notably, the nurse-police team reduced the top 10 per cent of emergency department repeat user clients by almost 50 per cent."

There are also results in the street. Members of a nurse-police team were the first on the scene of a recent downtown stabbing involving a 16-year-old victim, and provided crucial immediate wound care.

Nurse-police teams have also connected individuals with addiction recovery homes, shelters, and other service agencies.

Lianne Sorrell, a member of the nurse police team, said one of the most valuable aspects of the program is the outreach the teams do.

"So we go into places where the vulnerable population frequent, and we're able to provide simple medical care right at the time. We can give health teaching, and we also facilitate the use of community resources."

Mayor Drew Dilkens thanked the police chief 'for taking a leadership role here and making sure that the streets are safe.' (Dalson Chen/CBC)

The nurse-police team (NPT) program was first launched in May 2023.

As with the previous programs, the CRT pairs front-line police officers trained in crisis intervention with social workers trained in crisis intervention.

Jonathan Foster, VP of emergency and mental health for Windsor Regional Hospital, said he knows that nurse-police teams are making "a real difference" for vulnerable individuals in the city's core.

"Due to barriers in accessing health care, often their health issues go untreated and develop into a crisis or emergency — whether this is a medical issue or a mental health and addictions issue," Foster said in a news release.

"By attending to these individuals during higher demand hours, in their setting, and also addressing issues proactively, (the program) has avoided emergency room visits, which benefits the system as a whole."

By responding to individuals showing signs of mental illness, substance use, or behavioural disorders, CRT members can provide some relief to already over-burdened emergency departments.

Windsor police described CRT members as "experts in de-escalation during crisis situations."

"The initiative will modernize, streamline, and enhance critical service delivery to the community, while supporting all front-line first responders," police said.

The COAST program for Amherstburg will continue, separate from the new initiative.

The expansion of nurse-police teams and the development of the CRT program are being made possible by the recently approved $3.2-million Downtown Windsor Revitalization Plan.

"We are hitting the ground running with these initiatives," said Mayor Drew Dilkens.

Kuljeet Kalsi (left) a Windsor nurse participating in the Nurse-Police Team program and Const. Phong Le (right) of the Windsor Police Service. (Kuljeet Kalsi)

Speaking at Wednesday's news conference, Dilkens said mental health and addiction are very complicated and complex issues to solve.

'"Those solutions are not ones that anyone organization or group are going to be able to [provide]. That's why today is so important," he said.

Windsor police said they received 3,078 calls for service involving people in crisis in 2023 — representing an 11.3 per cent increase over 2022.