South Brunswick Police Celebrate One Year of Participation in 'Arrive Together Program'

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ - Police say they have responded to 41 mental health crises in the past year alongside a mental health professional to deescalate the situation, according to a press release. This partnership is part of the department’s participation in the “Arrive Together Program,” a state initiative that partners law enforcement with mental health crisis specialists to respond to 9-1-1 calls involving behavioral health incidents.

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Over the past year, Rutgers Behavioral Health mental health screener Michaela Durbin and Officer Ryan Bartunek have been working together to respond to mental health emergencies in South Brunswick. The department says that Drubin provides essential on-site assessments while Officer Bartunek maintains safety.

“Their joint efforts focus on de-escalation, immediate mental health evaluations, and connecting individuals with vital resources and into the appropriate care,” South Brunswick Police Department said in a released statement, “This partnership has also helped alleviate the use of unnecessary first responder resources, allowing us to direct those resources where they are truly needed.”

The Arrive Together Program was established in 2021 by the Attorney General’s Office, New Jersey State Police, and the Department of Human Services. The goal was to pair law enforcement with those who can provide deescalation techniques and assist residents in navigating access to mental health and other support services.

This program is active in every New Jersey County, according to the AG’s Office. Since 2021, there have been over 5,000 interactions involving the Arrive Together Program.

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According to data from the AG’s Office , 1,122 people have been linked to mental health services, 630 reportedly had their issues resolved, and 570 were voluntarily transported to a hospital. Less than 1% of police interactions under this program ended in an arrest.

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