ALAMOSA — Less than a year into the implementation of a groundbreaking program with the Alamosa Police Department (APD) — the first of its kind in the San Luis Valley — APD Chief Ken Anderson announced that a second APD co-responder was recently hired. Having a second co-responder on staff fulfills the department’s goal of having a complete team of two co-responders and a case manager.
Connie Brydges, who has been on the job for about three weeks, brings with her significant background experience that, according to the current co-responder, Tim Dellett, has allowed her to “hit the ground running”. Brydges has worked in crisis intervention, with the Department of Corrections in Trinidad and previously worked as a supervisor at SLV Behavioral Health Group.
“It’s definitely helpful that she’s already very familiar with Behavioral Health and the valley. We’re a full team now with Connie and our case manager, April Dominguez,” Dellett says.
Even with her background, Brydges will have additional training to complete before she’s fully prepared to go on the job, including APD procedures and protocol and other training necessary to make sure that she is safe on the job. Anderson estimates that training may be completed “a month or two down the road.”
“It’s exciting to see a program like this be so positive and to work so well,” Anderson told members of the Alamosa City Council as part of an update on the co-responder program. “It’s working out just as we planned and is a real benefit to both the agency and the community.”
In his update, Anderson also had high praise for Tim Dellett, who was hired for his position in September of 2022. “We’re grateful to have Tim on board to help the officers and the community. He’s developed a really, really good working relationship with the officers with the PD and he’s now extending that to the county and other agencies.”
During the update, one of the council members asked Dellett about the assistance he had provided to Alamosa County Sheriff’s Office, which Dellett said had happened on a few occasions. In those cases, he met ACSO deputies at the scene.
Anderson added that there was a “learning curve” involved, primarily making sure that protocol was followed — such as calling Anderson directly to ask for assistance from an APD co-responder, which allows Anderson to ensure the safety of the co-responder once he or she is on the scene.
When asked about the duties of his job on a daily basis, Dellett told the Valley Courier that an estimated 25% of his time involves being called out to assist officers who have encountered someone who is in crisis, such as an individual who is threatening suicide.
Other interactions are related to, for example, welfare checks on individuals requested by friends, neighbors, or family members. Adult Protective Services has called him to check on elderly individuals, and he’s also responded to reports of neglect or calls related to Child Protective Services. Prior to the creation of his position, those calls would have been answered by officers who may not have the background knowledge to know the next best step to take in the situation – something Dellett and, soon, Brydges know how to handle well.
Dellett also says that a significant amount of his time is related to individuals using or addicted to drugs.
When asked about the most common challenge he faces, Dellett says finding transportation is sometimes difficult but, often, people want help on a larger scale. “Sometimes, people are worried about someone who’s maybe cutting themselves or doing something to harm themselves because of addiction. They just want someone to take the person somewhere they can get evaluated or get some help. We just don’t have those resources in the valley as other places in the state have. We don’t have that authority but, even if we did, there’s just no place to take them.”
As he shared with members of the council during the recent update, it’s “important to manage expectations” and avoid “getting attached to outcomes.” Some of the people he encounters in his role don’t always step into the services that are available, he says, even when they have the opportunity to do so. “It’s just part of the scenario sometimes."
Much of the job is follow-up, he says, and involves building relationships with people over time who have had repeated interactions with the police department. He and Brydges will go through the incident reports every morning, maybe recognize someone they have already had interactions with before or those individuals who are having chronic problems.
Although schedules have yet to be determined, Dellett anticipates that having a second responder will allow coverage of more hours during the day and expand existing capacities to provide follow-up.
Although other agencies in the valley have expressed a significant interest in having a co-responder program, few — if any — have the resources to make it happen. APD is the only agency with co-responders on staff, made possible by the usage of funds from the American Rescue Plan Act and, according to City Manager Heather Brooks, funding from a Bureau of Justice grant, Connect and Protect: Law Enforcement Behavioral Health Response Program.
