The Chatham-Kent Police Service (CKPS) and the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) are teaming up to better support those struggling with mental health and addiction.
The new initiative, Mobile Addictions Response Team (MART), will pair a plain-clothed CKPS officer with an Addictions Therapist from CKHA's Rapid Access Addictions Medicine (RAAM) Clinic.
"By partnering with the CKHA, we are able to bring together frontline policing and specialized clinical support in a way that provides timely intervention, compassionate care, and meaningful pathways to treatment,” said CKPS Chief Kirk Earley.
According to a statement, the pilot program will focus on timely responses, follow-up services, and community collaboration.
The pilot project, which officially launched on Monday, will be funded by the provincial Mobile Crisis Team for its first two years.
