Residents’ recent calls to reduce police presence and funding in Santa Cruz County come at the same time police say they are overburdened with calls for mental health care and homelessness.
Our podcast explores the aftermath of two recent, fatal police shootings in our county that involved mental health — and how harm could be avoided. Looking toward solutions, we examine a program in Oregon that dispatches mental health care workers to crises without police.
We talk to a Santa Cruz County 911 dispatcher and law enforcement leaders about the advantages and disadvantages of crisis response without police.
TRANSCRIPT
Santa Cruz Local members get access to transcripts, additional reporting, related documents and photos.
Please support fair and accurate local journalism by becoming a member.
If you are a member, please login.
| MEMBER | PARTNER | DEFENDER | GUARDIAN | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MONTHLY |
$9 /mo
|
$18 /mo
|
$50 /mo
|
$100 /mo
|
| ANNUAL |
$99 /yr
|
$200 /yr
|
$500 /yr
|
$1,000 /yr
|
| Our gratitude | ||||
| Our gratitude | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| A place on our founders' donor wall | ||||
| A place on our founders' donor wall | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Access to transcripts | ||||
| Access to transcripts | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Access to additional reporting | ||||
| Access to additional reporting | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Discount on Santa Cruz Local events | ||||
| Discount on Santa Cruz Local events | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| A Santa Cruz Local sticker | ||||
| A Santa Cruz Local sticker | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| A Santa Cruz Local bumper sticker | ||||
| A Santa Cruz Local bumper sticker | - | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| A shout-out in an episode | ||||
| A shout-out in an episode | - | - | ✔ | ✔ |
| A shout-out in episodes for the life of your membership | ||||
| A shout-out in episodes for the life of your membership | - | - | - | ✔ |
| Two tickets to Santa Cruz Local events for the life of your membership | ||||
| Two tickets to Santa Cruz Local events for the life of your membership | - | - | - | ✔ |
Cancel anytime (but we can't issue refunds).
Stephen Baxter is a co-founder and editor of Santa Cruz Local. He covers Santa Cruz County government.