Posted: 02/03/2022 12:17:06 Modified: 02/03/2022 12:15:36 The City of Northampton has been at the forefront of statehood models wi...
Posted: 02/03/2022 12:17:06
Modified: 02/03/2022 12:15:36
The City of Northampton has been at the forefront of statehood models with the creation of the Department of Community Care. Rather than calling the armed police, unarmed professionals will be dispatched for mental health issues, homelessness and social service inquiries.
Senate Bill 1552, “An Act to Create Alternatives for Community Emergency Services” would help cities and towns across the Commonwealth with grants to fund alternative responses to 911 calls. I am writing in support of what is described on the front page of the Gazette of January 25th. If this bill passes, federal pandemic relief funding from the CARES Act would pay for the initial organization of the program and 80% of the funding for three years.
By developing alternative responses to emergency and non-emergency situations that do not require an arrest or police presence, the ACES program will help de-escalate volatile situations, allow law enforcement to focus on situations requiring their expertise, ensure access to social services and better protect the physical assets and mental well-being of communities across the Commonwealth.
Public support for this legislation is now crucial. Please locate your state legislators at https://malegislature.gov/search/findmylegislator. A quick call, email or tweet is all it takes.
Doris W. Madsen
Eastampton
The writer volunteers with MA Chapter Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America
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