University police and mental health response: an exploratory examination of the use of co-responder teams on campus

Purpose This study aims to provide foundational information about the nature and extent of calls responded to by a university co-responder team to better understand how these teams are utilized by the university community. Design/methodology/approach We use data collected from the University of Florida Police Department (UFPD) co-responder program from 2022 to 2024. Findings We find that UFPD co-responder teams respond to a diverse population. Use of force and arrests are low frequency events. Originality/value Little is known about how campus police agencies adopt co-responder teams and how encounters involving people with mental illnesses are resolved.