Response Team

Dual Dispatch Pilot

The new CARE primary response team consists of qualified behavioral health specialists trained to provide support and resources to support people experiencing crises. These responders are unarmed and will not exercise enforcement of any kind.  

The team will be dispatched by the team at Seattle 9-1-1 based on protocols that will ensure that there is not an apparent need for Seattle Fire, Seattle Police, or and EMS response. During the initial pilot phase, the CARE responders will be dispatched at the same time as a Seattle Police Department (SPD) unit. This will ensure that the situation is safe and the CARE team can spend the amount of time needed to best connect someone to services while police are free to move on to other calls.

This dual dispatch model design allows the City to deploy this new team to help people in crisis, safely gather data and experience to inform which calls benefit most from the CARE team response, and will make an immediate impact freeing up critical police and fire resources.

Pilot Area

The pilot will initially serve Seattle’s downtown activation area, from Denny Way to the stadium district, primarily west of I-5 down to the waterfront.

Pilot Hours

The pilot will initially operate from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Pilot Contact

The response team is dispatched directly through 911, there is no other line to request this response. For general info about the pilot or the CARE department, email CARE_info@seattle.gov