Mirroring the efforts of nearby communities to address a rising trend in mental health calls, Pearland Police Department will soon dispatch an officer paired with a certified mental health professional to respond to emergency calls.
The details
Pearland City Council voted unanimously at its March 23 meeting to create a crisis co-response team through an interlocal agreement with the Gulf Coast Center.
The team will help the city provide long-term stabilization to people experiencing a mental health crisis and better equip the police department to respond to calls involving a person in crisis.
Through a grant, the Gulf Coast Center would fund the mental health professional’s salary, and the city would be responsible for the officer’s salary.
Why it matters
Mental health calls for service in the city increased by 17% in 2025 compared to the five-year average, placing increased demands on patrol operations and emergency response systems, according to city documents.
Responding to calls where there is a person experiencing a mental health crisis, officers are currently directed to focus on immediate safety and scene stabilization, but not long-term intervention, leading to repeated calls for service, which has strained the department’s resources, according to city documents.
What it means
While on scene, the team will conduct on-site mental health assessments and provide de-escalation and crisis stabilization through a more personalized, subtle response that enhances voluntary compliance, according to city documents.
While not responding to mental health-related calls, the team will focus on proactive community care, including following up with previous clients, coordinating with mental health providers, conducting training and engaging in community outreach, according to city documents.
The impact
League City Police Department launched a similar program in partnership with the Gulf Coast Center in February 2024, according to previous reporting by Community Impact.
In 2025, the department has logged:
- 1,111 follow-ups to ensure continued care
- 523 crisis intervention team entries
- 115 customers diverted from arrest to mental health services
- 64 people experiencing homelessness who were tracked and provided resources and support
Quote of note“I think this is a great initiative in our community, and I appreciate [city staff] bringing it forward,” council member Clint Byrom said. “We’ve talked a lot from this dais as well as in our community about the need for mental health services in Pearland and in Brazoria County.”
