Co-responder program officially launched at Royal Oak Police Department

ROYAL OAK — The Co-Response Community Outreach Program, called “CoRe,” has launched in the Ferndale, Hazel Park, Madison Heights and Royal Oak police departments, as announced at a press conference Oct. 29 at the Royal Oak Police Department.

The four communities partnered with Oakland Community Health Network to provide two clinicians, Alyssa Waters and Sabrina Fallone, who are trained and certified to help when mental health or substance abuse comes into play during active duty.

Waters and Fallone will cover all four communities. 

Previously, the program was talked about during a public open house hosted by the Royal Oak Police Department on April 24, and again at the Oct. 28 City Commission meeting.

Fallone attended the City Commission meeting Oct. 28 and said that she and Waters are excited to work alongside the ROPD.

“We have seen a lot of success out there,” Fallone said, referencing her previous work as a co-responder. “I’ve seen a lot of success with just being on the scene and offering alternatives to not only the officers, but also the people who we attend to in the community.”

According to a press release, “The two mental health clinicians hired for the CoRe program have received comprehensive training tailored to the specific needs of law enforcement.”

Training included familiarizing themselves with departmental policies, participating in officer ride-alongs, shadowing experienced co-responders and receiving safety training alongside law enforcement personnel, according to the release. 

At the Royal Oak Police Department open house that took place on April 24, Chief Michael Moore said that the clinicians will be equipped with a radio, car and indication that they are a social worker, not to be confused with a police officer or bystander. 

Evan Ahlin, police communications liaison for the Ferndale Police Department, led the press conference Oct. 29, outlining the program.

“This partnership of our four police departments and Oakland Community Health Network is more than just a service; it is a commitment to our communities,” Ahlin said. “Operating under the motto ‘Responding as One,’ it represents teamwork, progress, hope and a shared vision for the future.”

Trisha Zizumbo, chief operating officer for Oakland Community Health Network, spoke at the press conference highlighting OCHN’s role in the program.

Zizumbo said that the program began in 2021 in Auburn Hills, Birmingham and Bloomfield Township.

One million dollars in American Rescue Plan Act funds allocated to the program by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners made it possible for CoRe to expand into Ferndale, Royal Oak, Madison Heights and Hazel Park.

“They (clinicians) provide crisis intervention to de-escalate, and provide resources, support and services to individuals in the community,” she said. “CoRe is a part of OCHN’s justice department. We are really fortunate to be one of the only community mental health resources in the state of Michigan that has an entire department focused solely on our intersection with the justice department.”

Zizumbo said that since 2021, the program has received more than 3,500 referrals from law enforcement agencies that they work with. It has also grown to serve 15 communities. 

“The reality is when someone is in crisis, people call 911, and traditionally law enforcement might not have had all of the answers at that time. ... Sometimes we just wouldn't get to the root cause of what the issues might be,” Royal Oak Police Chief Michael Moore said at the press conference. “With this program, that is simply not the case anymore. Our clinicians are a valuable resource.”

Each participating department will form a CoRe Team consisting of a CoRe team coordinator, CoRe liaison officer and a mental health clinician. 

The clinicians will provide services such as case consultations, referrals to community resources and coordination of ongoing care. Co-responders will also play a vital role in training and assisting CoRe Teams so that law enforcement and mental health services go hand in hand.

“The research shows our communities are going to benefit from this program, and I truly believe that it’s going to save lives in the long run,” Moore said. “We can’t wait to deliver it to our communities.”

Starting immediately, the CoRe team will be assisting law enforcement in Royal Oak, Ferndale, Hazel Park and Madison Heights in situations relating to a mental health crisis. 

For more information on the CoRe program, visit romi.gov.