Dunwoody officials give nod to police co-responder post

By ALEXANDER POPP alex@appenmedia.com

DUNWOODY, Ga. — Dunwoody police may soon have regular access to a mental health specialist during crisis calls.

The City Council gave preliminary approval March 13 for a contract with the DeKalb Community Service Board to hire a licensed behavioral health clinician as a “co-responder” assisting Dunwoody and Doraville police in situations involving mental health issues and drug abuse.

For several months in 2022, the City of Dunwoody had great success with a similar position, after contracting with View Point Health for a co-responder employee, Dunwoody Deputy Police Chief Michael Carlson told city councilmembers.

“The officers that were out there thought this was just an extremely valuable service, due to the mental health situation that we have,” Carlson said Unfortunately, he said, the contract was canceled in November after a new state

See DUNWOODY, Page 6

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