It has been almost one year since nationwide protests against police brutality began in response to a Minneapolis Police Officer killing George Floyd, an unarmed Black man who had not committed a violent crime.
As a result of these protests, communities across the U.S. have looked at how city and county funds are allocated, highlighting the large size of police budgets relative to mental health services, substance use treatment, housing and resources uplifting communities of color.
In Sonoma County, a few cities are now developing crisis teams that will act as first responders to nonviolent 911 calls concerning mental illness, homelessness and other crises for which police are not necessary. Santa Rosa, Petaluma and Rohnert Park are each developing programs modeled after Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets (CAHOOTS), a program operated by White Bird Clinic in Eugene, Oregon, for more than 30 years.
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