Beaumont police respond to a growing number of calls that involve mental health crises, and department data shows that these interactions have increased significantly in recent years. According to the Beaumont Police Department’s own statistics, officers handled 1,164 calls coded as “mental subject” in 2023, up from 663 in 2022, and conducted 515 emergency detention orders in 2023, a sign that more individuals in crisis are coming into contact with law enforcement.
To address these challenges, the department created the position of Mental Health Liaison, with Sergeant Burt Moore now in the role, designed to help identify individuals who frequently engage with police due to mental health issues and to strengthen partnerships with mental health providers like Spindletop MHMR. The role also supports officer training, crisis de-escalation and coordination with community resources.
Officers have increasingly been on the front lines of mental health emergencies. In one recent incident, Beaumont police responded to a report of a man in crisis on a hospital parking garage ledge, using de-escalation and crisis response skills to safely prevent a fall and get him the help he needed.
As calls involving people in crisis continue to make up a significant portion of police responses, community members and local leaders are asking whether additional mental health resources and support for law enforcement would improve outcomes for individuals in crisis and keep officers better equipped to handle these complex situations.