Cullman City backs police iPad mental-health pilot and proclaims May as Mental Health Awareness Month

The Cullman City Council heard a presentation from Chief Duncan about a new pilot equipping patrol officers with 10 iPads, provided through a partnership with Wellstone, that enable one-touch video connections to a mobile crisis team.

Chief Duncan said the devices let officers connect quickly to licensed mental-health professionals while mobile teams are en route, enabling an on-scene beginning to the mental-health response and potentially reducing escalation. "It's a one touch connection to the mobile crisis team," Chief Duncan told the council, adding that officers can show the situation via video to the clinician.

The council also adopted a resolution recognizing May 2026 as Mental Health Awareness Month and called attention to Wellstone’s reported local service in 2025: 2,801 Cullman County residents served, including 841 children and 1,297 adults identified with serious mental illness; the resolution noted portions of those served reported unstable housing and veteran status.

Council members praised the pilot and the city’s partnerships with local providers and schools. The proclamation and recognition passed by voice vote; the iPad pilot was presented as a current operational rollout rather than a separate council vote during the meeting.

Next steps: the city will monitor the pilot’s performance and continue community partnerships to expand access to care.