Responding to 911 Calls With Sweatpants and Snacks, Not Guns
Since last June, the City of Denver has been trying something new with its 911 emergency response system. In an effort to reduce violent conflicts with police, some calls are being redirected to a new team of paramedics and social workers, called STAR, or Support Team Assisted Response. The pilot program has proven enormously popular, with the team responding to almost 1,400 calls over the course of the year with zero referrals to police. Host Bree Davies sits down with one of STAR’s mental health clinicians Carleigh Sailon to hear what it’s like to respond to a 911 call and what she hopes for the future of the program.
Here’s how to request assistance from STAR directly if you ever need to: 720-913-STAR (7827)
For more on the STAR program and other Denver news worth knowing, subscribe to our weekday morning newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/
And follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Stay connected to City Cast Denver and get ready to join the local conversation.
Latest Episodes
Is the Front Range Train Actually Happening? Plus, Denver's Water Fails and Our Water World Speedo Mystery
Denverites can’t seem to stop watering their lawns. Amid a drought, Denver Water says they’ve asked customers to cut water usage by 20%,...
Inside the Shooting at Aurora's Immigration Detention Facility. Plus, Gov. Polis vs. Socialism
Gov. Jared Polis popped up on both CNN and Fox News this weekend to talk about his unfavorable view of socialism. In the wake of democrat...
Could Your Next Apartment Be on Colfax Avenue?
Sure, the new BRT line gets all the headlines these days as transit construction dominates Colfax, but this corridor is always changing....
‘Your City Could Be Better’: Why Are Chattanoogans ‘Doing It Their Damn Selves’? — Presented By City Cast Denver
Sometimes it can feel like the Denver government is two (or more) steps behind the needs of its neighborhoods. Enter the residents of Cha...
Is This the End of the 16th Street FreeRide? Plus, Another ICE Detention Center and an Influencer Disses Denver
Could the 16th Street shuttle disappear for good? As RTD grapples with a quarter-billion dollar budget shortfall, dozens of light rail li...
Is Childcare About to Get Cheaper? Plus, Local Venue Workers Unionize and What If Nightclubs Were Open Until 4 A.M.?
Parents and daycare providers have been sounding the alarm that childcare in Denver is expensive, hard to find, or hard to provide. This...
Would You Take the Bus to DIA? Plus, Long Lines at Water World and Colorado’s Road Rage Problem
Widening Peña Boulevard is still very much on the table, but DIA officials have recently agreed to explore options beyond just making mor...
Did the Media Give Sen. Hickenlooper a Pass? Plus, Turnover at Denver Central Market and GOP Voters Choose Victor Marx
Victor Marx is officially the Colorado Republican nominee for governor. The former marine who claims he’s performed exorcisms is now task...
Denver’s Best Burgers, a Jazzy New Wine Bar, and MAKFam’s Anticipated Expansion
Is a burger really a burger without cheese? Can a traditional patty compare to a smash patty? Does a burger taste better when it comes ou...
‘Your City Could Be Better’: Does Denver Have a ‘Perfect’ Airport? — Presented By City Cast Denver
There’s lots to love about Denver, but being able to get in and out of it easily and cheaply can be an underrated metric of its livabilit...