It’s been almost three years now since Portland Street Response launched.
The program sends a mental health counselor and paramedic to certain 911 calls instead of police. The pilot program started in the Lents neighborhood of Southeast Portland in February 2021 and expanded citywide in March 2022.

But is Portland Street Response working? And does it have enough support from city leadership to keep it going?

Stephenie Sullivan, Deputy Portland Fire Chief and head of the bureau’s Medical Services and Training division, stopped by Eye on Northwest Politics to answer these questions and more.