Earlier this year, The Student uncovered the inception and challenges faced by the Community Responders for Equity, Safety, and Service (CRESS) program in Amherst. As of early April, several updates for CRESS have emerged, indicating potential progress toward fulfilling its initial mission. Established by the town Community Safety Working Group (CSWG) as an unarmed community safety and alternative policing force after the murder of George Floyd, CRESS had noble intentions, showing promise that non-violent police calls could receive unarmed mediation, behavioral and mental health, and homelessness support services. However, CRESS encountered numerous internal issues, controversies, and the denial of town approval to respond to 911 calls from the dispatch center. The program’s former director, Earl Miller, resigned in October 2023 after an extended leave since July. Three additional members of the eight-person team resigned following Miller’s leave. Changes to the CRESS budget due to these shifts are unclear.