National Interest In CAHOOTS Swamps White Bird Clinic's Inbox

Brian Bull

Dozens of American cities have reached out to a Eugene-based alternative policing program in the past few months.  With renewed attention on how policing is carried out following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, CAHOOTS is often referred to as an efficient alternative.

Tim Black is the Director of Consulting for White Bird Clinic, which operates the mobile crisis intervention service.

“I think we’ve gotten over 150 requests from different cities in the last couple of months," he told KLCC. 

"In addition to that list we’ve seen more recently the city of Vallejo in California has approved funding for a pilot program based on the CAHOOTS model.  Culver City is also really interested in exploring how a similar program can be brought to their community as well as to the rest of Los Angeles County.”

Black added efforts to create CAHOOTS-style programs in Houston and Austin are also gaining traction.

Copyright 2020, KLCC.

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Brian Bull is an assistant professor of journalism at the University of Oregon, and remains a contributor to the KLCC news department. He began working with KLCC in June 2016.   In his 27+ years as a public media journalist, he's worked at NPR, Twin Cities Public Television, South Dakota Public Broadcasting, Wisconsin Public Radio, and ideastream in Cleveland. His reporting has netted dozens of accolades, including four national Edward R. Murrow Awards (22 regional),  the Ohio Associated Press' Best Reporter Award, Best Radio Reporter from  the Native American Journalists Association, and the PRNDI/NEFE Award for Excellence in Consumer Finance Reporting.