Sometimes those types of situations can be averted through community-based programs, Lampert said.

One example is the Madison Police Department’s Mental Health Liaison program.

Capt. Kristen Roman, who oversees the liaison program, said it was chosen in 2010 by the Council of State Governments Justice Center in conjunction with the Bureau of Justice Assistance as one of six in the country to act as a resource for other agencies who want to enact a similar program.

While all Madison police officers are trained in mental health response and de-escalation, about 20 officers act as volunteer liaisons who follow up with individuals in their service areas who have been contacted by police.

In 2015, the department added five full-time mental health officers who “take the work the liaisons do part time and do more focused, concentrated follow-up,” Roman said.

Part of the role of the mental health officers is to create care guides for the individuals that they come into contact with so that any future encounters can be handled as smoothly as possible.