Organizational News
Toronto Police Service Concludes Gerstein Crisis Centre 9-1-1 Call Diversion Pilot Project
At the September 12, 2024 meeting of the Toronto Police Service Board (TPSB), it was announced the Toronto Police Service (TPS) 9-1-1 Call Diversion Pilot Project with the Gerstein Crisis Centre (GCC) will conclude on September 30, 2024, after nearly three years in operation. The next step in the TPS’ commitment to alternative service delivery will be fully utilizing the Toronto Community Crisis Service (TCCS) with GCC as one of the partnering community support agencies.
The pilot project supported directions to provide alternative non-police models of community safety response for persons in crisis made by the TPSB’s 81 Recommendations on Police Reform and the City of Toronto Auditor General’s report, Review of the Toronto Police Service – Opportunities to Support More Effective Responses to Calls for Service.
“We are proud of the successful pilot with our longstanding partner, the Gerstein Crisis Centre, to better support those in crisis in Toronto,” said Chief of Police Myron Demkiw. “TPS is committed to working with the community and our City of Toronto partners to offer alternative service delivery options and in some cases co-response with the police. Our collaboration with the Gerstein Crisis Centre provided learnings for everyone involved and we look forward to continuing this important work through our ongoing partnership with the Toronto Community Crisis Service.”
TPS and GCC responders worked collaboratively, but distinctly, to assist in the diversion of non-emergency mental health related calls away from a police response.
“Gerstein Crisis Centre is proud of the work that happened for the community through this innovative project with Toronto Police Service,” said GCC Executive Director Susan Davis. “We look forward to building on our learnings from this pilot and remain committed to strengthening community-based alternatives for crisis intervention.”
October 4, 2021
- The 9-1-1 Call Diversion Pilot Project with GCC became operational in three TPS divisions (14, 51 and 52), 20 hours a day, seven days a week.
July 27, 2022
- The TPSB received a mid-term evaluation of the first six months, whereby the pilot project diverted 117 events from a police response from October 4, 2021 to April 4, 2022.
September 13, 2022
- A citywide expansion of the pilot catchment area with hours of operation extending to 24 hours a day and an extension of the term of the pilot from October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023 was approved by the TPSB.
September 14, 2023
- To facilitate an independent evaluation of the program by the Provincial Support Systems Program at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, a second extension of the pilot project was approved until September 30, 2024.
Implementing the 9-1-1 Call Diversion Pilot Project with GCC was an important first step for the Service in exploring alternatives to a police response for non-emergent mental health crises.
TPS has collaborated with TCCS to provide the public another avenue in alternate crisis response, along with GCC, since March 31, 2022.
TCCS offers a suite of support services to persons experiencing non-emergency mental health crises and provides at-scene non-police response to all areas of Toronto, as well as delivering a more streamlined diversion process for TPS’ communications operators. TCCS supports Toronto residents 16 years of age or older and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and can be directly accessed by calling 2-1-1. Learn more about the Toronto Community Crisis Service.
The Service is committed to providing better outcomes for persons in crisis, which includes providing alternative non-police models of community safety response for persons in crisis.