Ann Arbor resumes search for unarmed crisis-response model after earlier contract fell short

Ann Arbor is continuing efforts to establish an unarmed crisis-response model to respond to mental-health emergencies alongside public safety, city officials said.

Councilmember Jen Cornell said a previous contractor did not meet the city’s requirements and the council chose not to proceed; officials are now taking additional time to identify best practices and partners. “Having an unarmed response that acts alongside public safety is a model that is still evolving…to do it wrong would be devastating on a lot of levels,” Cornell said on CTN’s Ward Talk.

Cornell described current steps: city departments are undergoing training to understand best practices for non-armed responses, the city has authorized the city administrator to pursue potential partnerships and resources, and staff will work to ensure any new program aligns with public safety needs while providing compassionate care. She stressed that not every response requires armed officers and that the city is trying to position a model that works locally rather than repeating past mistakes.

No contract or vendor name was announced on-air; officials did not provide a timetable for when a new program might be operational.