first mental health response system of its kind

The City of Tulsa will launch the first mental health response system in the state. COPES or Community Outreach Psychiatric Emergency Services has had a partnership with Tulsa since 2017. Beginning next month, the COPES team will be trained as dispatchers to dispatch their own mental health team which should reduce the number of mental health 9-1-1 calls police are dispatched to. Those having mental health issues should call 9-8-8 instead of 9-1-1.