As community groups push for a ballot issue to reshape the city's mental health and substance abuse response, Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther announced a $1 million expansion to the city's alternative crisis response efforts.
Ginther said that money will be used to create a team of non-uniform experts who will respond to certain mental and behavioral health crises in place of the police.
"When it's clear that there's no threat of physical danger, we'll dispatch a team consisting of clinicians and peer supporters, not police to the situation," Ginther said during a press event Thursday at the Franklin County Crisis Care Center.
He said the new funding is part of a larger $8.8 million continuing investment in alternative crisis response.
Ginther said having a dedicated team for mental and behavioral health will free up police to handle emergencies, which they are better qualified to handle.
The city is also set to add a clinician to its 911 call center to help evaluate how to best support callers in crisis. Ginther said the additional funding will allow for 11 full and part-time clinicians who work with city police.
"When someone in Columbus dials 9-1-1 in their darkest moment, they should know that the right help is on the way," Ginther said.
Ginther also announced something he hoped would make everyone smile: the city's 2026 funding calls for the addition of a therapy dog to ride along with the mobile crisis response team to help deescalate situations.
The city will create an alterative response advisory panel made up of industry professionals.
"This is what modern public safety looks like," Ginther said.
