We take you inside Fort Myers’ Crisis Response Unit, where trained officers and behavioral health clinicians arrive together to stabilize high-stress situations, listen without judgment, and guide people toward care instead of cuffs. This is a ground-level look at what happens when public safety and mental health pull in the same direction.

We talk with Sgt. Antonini, who helped design the program, and Heather Cross from the Center for Progress and Excellence, the partner providing mobile clinicians. They share why local call data demanded a new approach, how training goes beyond a single 40-hour course, and what realistic scenario drills teach about scene safety, role clarity, and time as a de-escalation tool. You’ll hear concrete examples of on‑scene practice: slowing the pace, validating feelings, building safety plans that keep people out of involuntary hospitalization, and connecting them with case management that solves barriers like transportation, cost, and insurance.

The results are measurable. By tracking monthly outcomes—diversion rates, Baker Acts, arrests, and use of force—the team shows a clear uptick in diversions when the co-responder unit handles the call. That’s fewer ER beds and jail bookings, more trust with residents, and a stronger network of community partners ready to help. Services are free, mobile, and available 24/7 across Lee County, from homes and parks to gas stations and highway shoulders. If you can’t recall the 844 number, you can still ask 911 to send the co-responder team and request CPE by name for behavioral health needs.

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