Unarmed Social Workers Will Be Deployed to Handle Some 911 Calls in Cambridge, Mass.

EXCERPT:

REPORTER (voice-over): "A tentative plan to send a team of unarmed social workers to some emergency 911 calls in Cambridge could officially be rolled out as soon as next month, says Liz Speakman, director of the city's new Community Assistance Response & Engagement.”
SPEAKMAN: "Having an unarmed civilian with experience in mental health going to mental health calls is really the right response."
REPORTER: "Speakman tells us that the five members of the CARE team have extensive backgrounds as social workers and first responders. Unlike some other alternative response programs recently deployed in other cities across the country, the CARE team will not be accompanied by police when they are sent to non-violent mental health related calls."
SPEAKMAN: "If anything goes wrong, if there's any safety concerns, they can radio for assistance immediately and get back up right away."
MATHIEU: "It's an opportunity for us to help fix a system that's been broken for a really long time."