OMAHA, Neb. – The Omaha City Council unanimously passed an ordinance Tuesday giving the green light to raise the pay of mental health crisis co-responders embedded with the Omaha Police Department.
The ordinance raises the minimum salary for the positions from $47,757 to $55,141. It also requires co-responders to have a master’s degree.
An incident between Omaha police and Zachary Bear Heels in 2017 was the spark for the move to have mental health crisis co-responders.
While trying to take Bear Heels – who had schizophrenia and bipolar disorder – into custody, he resisted. Things got physical and he died in police custody.
The incident also cost the city money. It settled with Bear Heels’ estate and his mother for $550,000 in 2020.
The Omaha Police Department later added mental health co-responders to help in situations involving a mental health crisis.
“The police have recognised that the co-responders are a very positive de-escalation tool that they can use to help the community,” said Councilman Danny Begley. “When people are going through mental health crisis issues in their lives, it’s a great tool that the police department has put in place to help de-escalate and deal with those situations.”
Begley said increasing the starting base pay for these co-responders is important to attract the right people.
“It’s increasing the base pay to make sure that we’re getting great candidates that are continuing to apply for this important position that, again, not only helps the police department and the stretched resources that they have, but it’s also a great tool for the community when people are going through mental health crises in their lives.”
Begley said he had received several positive emails from constituents about a meeting OPD’s Southwest Precinct had earlier this month regarding the co-responders. He feels it’s a win-win for the community, not just the police.
Now that the ordinance has been approved, it will go into effect in 15 days.
