Hemet Police Partner with Social Workers for Mental Health Calls

Riverside County program embeds licensed clinicians with officers to de-escalate and connect people to resources

Mar. 27, 2026 at 1:33am

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The Hemet Police Department has teamed up with the Riverside University Health Systems to have licensed social workers and detectives respond together to mental health emergencies. The goal of the Community Behavioral Assessment Teams (CBAT) program is to de-escalate situations and connect people in crisis with the appropriate county health resources.

Why it matters

Mental health calls can be challenging for police officers to handle alone, often requiring specialized training and resources. This partnership allows for a more holistic approach that prioritizes the wellbeing of individuals in crisis and reduces the burden on law enforcement.

The details

The CBAT program pairs a police detective with a licensed social worker or clinician to respond to mental health-related calls. The clinicians have master's degrees in social work or marriage and family therapy and can provide on-scene care as well as follow-up with county health resources as needed. Officers say the presence of the clinician helps build trust and encourages people in crisis to engage with them.

  • The Hemet Police Department launched the CBAT program in partnership with Riverside County in 2025.
  • In 2021, Riverside County's CBAT teams responded to over 5,800 crisis service requests across 20 police departments in the county.

The players

Hemet Police Department

The local police department in Hemet, California that has partnered with Riverside County to embed social workers on mental health calls.

Riverside University Health Systems

The county health system that provides the licensed social workers and clinicians who respond alongside Hemet police officers through the CBAT program.

Detective Albert Martinez

A Hemet police officer who has found the CBAT partnership with social workers to be "beyond helpful" in responding to mental health emergencies.

Cynthia Ferreiro

A licensed social worker who is partnered with Detective Martinez through the CBAT program, providing behavioral health expertise and connecting people in crisis to county resources.

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What they’re saying

“It's beyond helpful. Having her with me, and the knowledge she has, helps us big time.”

— Detective Albert Martinez

“Mental health crisis, anything having to do with health-related stuff, doesn't happen in a traditional setting anymore. It happens on the sidewalk. It happens in a bridge. It happens in a police lobby. When somebody walks in and says, I need help.”

— Cynthia Ferreiro, CBAT Clinician

What’s next

Hemet PD and Riverside County officials say they are working to expand the CBAT program to more police departments in the region to provide a more comprehensive mental health response across the county.

The takeaway

By embedding licensed social workers and clinicians alongside police officers, the CBAT program in Hemet provides a more holistic approach to mental health emergencies that prioritizes de-escalation, connects people to appropriate resources, and reduces the burden on law enforcement.