CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The City of Clarksville and Centerstone are considering an agreement to expand mobile crisis services for those needing mental health treatment.

The Clarksville Police Department and Centerstone, the nonprofit mental health organization, have received a $750,000 annual grant, which will run over the course of four years, with the goal of expanding mobile crisis co-response services for children, youth and adults, according to previous reports.

CPD Chief Ty Burdine addressed the City Council on Oct. 29 about the difference this will make in Clarksville and in the police department.

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Burdine said it’s expected that Centerstone will hire three employees who would assist police with calls when needed. “The reason for it is, a lot of times when people are in a time of crisis, and we show up in uniform, it can sometimes add stress (to the situation).”

Burdine said if police are able to have a licensed therapist as part of the response, it does three things for the department:

  • Reduces time spent responding to the same mental health crisis calls.
  • Supplies the community with responders who have continuity and consistency in dealing with those having mental health crises.
  • Creates more efficiency for patrol officers responding to calls/crises.

“It might make the call shorter because of the skillset right there with the therapist as we respond,” Burdine said, in support of a memorandum of understanding with Centerstone. “We are still working through the policy on our end, but this sets us forward in motion so we can work with this unit.”

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Burdine explained the employees hired by Centerstone would ride along with police at times during the day, evenings and nights, while working in an administration capacity as well. “As they respond to these calls, there’s also going to be follow-ups with these individuals,” he said.

“We’ll have a dedicated office where they will have access to, to come in and do their follow-ups and connect back with those people in crisis that they had dealt with,” Burdine said. “More than likely, those that are CTI (Crisis Intervention Team) trained will be the ones riding with these therapists.”

The City Council will vote on the MOU during their regular meeting on Thursday, Oct. 5, at 6 p.m.

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