The top cop in Kamloops says the recent expansion of the Integrated Crisis Response Team has been a success.

Superintendent Jeff Pelley says police are still looking at ways to improve the program which pairs nurses with Mounties during mental health calls.

“So we continue to look at that program and evolve it where necessary and how we can focus on criminal matters that have a mental health component or not-criminal matters that have a mental health component that the police are called for,” Pelley told a Kamloops Committee of the Whole meeting.

“It is constantly being reassessed on call volumes and where the need is.”

At present, the program formerly known as Car 40, is operating with three nurses and two police officers on an enhanced 12 hour a day, seven-day-a-week schedule. That is up from the previous 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. schedule on four days a week, Tuesday to Friday.

“That has been a success covering 11 to 12 hours a day, with two officers dedicated to it as well as three nurses from Interior Health for our rotations and continue to serve of great benefit,” Pelley added.

“Absolutely there is some need in the evening but with our call volume and supporting our front line officers, we will be looking at how that can be evolved inclusive of not just being city-centric as well.”

There were 199 response team interventions between January and March of this year, up from 189 in the same three month period last year.

Pelley previously told RadioNL that the program is a very helpful one to law enforcement.

“If it is not a call that requires police intervention then that is where Interior Health becomes more engaged on that front and there could be a referral process, there could be engaging other wraparound services, depending on the needs of the individual,” Pelley said.

“There are benefits to having this collaborative approach because it may reduce calls for service involving the police so that it is not repeat and then also tacking the root issues.”