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After years of development, the city of Santa Fe is preparing to launch a new emergency response unit with a goal of alleviating the workload of the police and fire departments and providing better support to community members in crisis.
The Alternative Response Unit will be a multidepartment unit composed of a police officer, a paramedic, a behavioral health caseworker and a social worker to address low-threat 911 calls in which someone may need help rather than a jail cell. The unit will begin operating May 4 on a schedule of two days a week, with hopes of expanding this summer, Santa Fe fire Chief Paul Babcock said…
