Cambridge is taking notes from Durham, North Carolina, as it seeks to overhaul its approach to community safety and crisis response, officials learned. A team from Cambridge's Community Safety, Police, and Emergency Communications Departments travelled to the Durham Community Safety Department to pick up some tips on managing their crisis response program, as the city announced.
According to a press release, the visit, which occurred between January 22-24 marked an opportunity for Cambridge staff to study the Durham team's operations, including program utilization, their quick response times to various crises, ranging from trespassing to mental health emergencies – and, how they manage strong working relationships with local agencies. Durham's Holistic Empathetic Assistance Response Team (HEART) has been on the front lines since June 2022, taking on more than 12,000 non-emergency calls to date.
Assistant Director of Clinical Services with the Cambridge Community Safety Department, Marie Mathieu, told the Cambridge Community Safety Department website, "There was so much respect for each other's expertise, stepping up or back when appropriate, and even calling for assistance when necessary." She added, "Knowing how much our city cares for its members, I am so excited about the work we are doing to create a similar collaborative in Cambridge."
Cambridge is prepping its own Community Assistance Response and Engagement (CARE) Team, determined to start addressing specific 911 calls this spring – with a solid foundation, thanks to their Durham trip and 12 weeks of extensive training. CARE responders have tackled more than 360 hours of training, equipping them with tools for de-escalation, conflict mediation, and other critical response skills, amplified by hands-on field experience with local emergency teams, and, community outreach efforts. The depth of training ensures a well-prepared team ready to step into action, asserts Director of the Community Safety Department Elizabeth Speakman.
Cambridge is clearly committed to this program, investing time and resources to ensure its launch reflects a nuanced understanding of what it means to serve and protect diverse community needs. For more details on the initiatives and training modules of Cambridge's CARE Team, visit their official website or contact them directly via email at [email protected] or their hotline at (617) 349-7200.
