High Point Police Introduce New Mental Health Response Unit

September 19, 2026 - 02:22

The High Point Police Department has rolled out a specialized team designed to change how officers handle calls involving behavioral health struggles. The unit, called the help, outreach, prevention and engagement team, or HOPE, brings together a licensed social worker and two crisis counselors. Their job is to step in when situations involve homelessness, substance use or mental health concerns, rather than leaving those cases solely to armed officers.

The approach reflects a growing shift in policing, where departments pair law enforcement with clinical professionals. By embedding social workers and counselors directly into the response process, the HOPE team aims to connect people with services instead of pushing them through the criminal justice system. That could mean arranging shelter, offering treatment referrals or simply de-escalating a tense moment before it turns dangerous.

Supporters say the model can reduce repeat calls for service and ease pressure on patrol officers who often lack the training to handle psychiatric emergencies. The team will also focus on prevention, following up with individuals who need ongoing support. For a city dealing with rising visibility of homelessness and addiction, the program offers a different path, one built on outreach and care rather than arrest. Officials expect the team to build trust with residents who might otherwise avoid contacting police at all.