The Co-Responder Unit at the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office is an alternative crisis response model where specially trained law enforcement is paired with behavioral health professionals to respond to behavioral health and substance use calls for service. This program is a collaboration between the Sheriff’s Office, the Community Paramedics, Mobile Crisis, and many community partners.

The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office Co-Responder Unit responds to incidents where community members are experiencing a behavioral health or substance use crisis. The unit provides trauma-informed responses for individuals in crisis with the goal of preventing future crises and criminal justice system involvement.