Central Falls Police Dept. Embeds Behavioral Health Clinician with Officers

In a bold step forward for public safety and community support, the City of Central Falls launched a groundbreaking partnership between Central Falls Police Department (CFPD), Gateway Healthcare and Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island to embed a full-time behavioral health clinician directly into its police response.

The initiative means that when 911 calls involve a mental health or substance use crisis, residents will not only see police officers responding to help—they’ll also see a licensed behavioral health professional equipped to provide immediate support, crisis de-escalation, and follow-up care. The clinician will also be a resource for officer capacity, offering specific mental health training, debriefings, and wellness support.

“Central Falls has been recognized across the country for our community policing, and this program takes our impact and care to the next level,” said Mayor Maria Rivera. “Our officers have often responded to situations––with EMS support—that really require a mental health professional’s expertise. Thanks to this partnership, our community will get both: the safety of our officers and the care of a clinician, working side by side. We want to ensure our neighbors and community members who are experiencing mental health crises get the help and support they need.”

“This is a game-changer for our department and our city,” said CFPD Colonel Anthony Roberson. “Our officers face situations every day where mental health or substance use is at the core of the crisis. Having a clinician at the scene helps us calm things down, get people connected to care, and keep families together. It also gives our officers the support they need after the fact. This partnership is about compassion, safety, and solutions. We’re looking forward to the impact this can have on CF.”

“We know that the right response in the right moment can change the entire trajectory of a person’s life,” said Amy McCarthy, LICSW, Co-Responder Team Clinical Coordinator at Gateway Healthcare. “By standing shoulder-to-shoulder with police officers, our clinician can prevent unnecessary hospitalizations, reduce trauma, and connect residents to the care they need right away. We’re proud to partner with Central Falls on this powerful new model and approach to community support.”

This initiative is in partnership with Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island.

Safety in Central Falls has been a cornerstone of progress during Mayor Rivera’s Administration. Crime is the lowest it’s been in decades, and CFPD’s nationally- and internationally-awarded community policing efforts continue to set the standard for building better community trust and relationships. With this new initiative, the smallest city in RI continues to redefine what modern, community-focused, compassionate policing can look like.