We were pleased to read the May 11 article in The Journal about a new public service in Montezuma County called the Community Intervention Program. This program is designed to handle noncriminal 9-1-1 calls, such as those involving substance abuse, mental illness and various socioeconomic crises. As with Denver’s Support Team Assisted Response program, personnel hired to respond are specially trained to deal with behavioral issues such as public intoxication or minor disturbances of the peace.
With funds provided by the Biden Administration’s American Rescue Plan, the municipalities of Cortez, Dolores and Mancos created the CIP after nationwide protests over the 2020 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. His was the latest of many deaths of unarmed Black men caused by excessive use of force. We want to thank the three municipalities; county commissioners; Axis Health System; and the Cortez Fire Protection District for collaborating to find a solution to this stain on our republic.
We especially credit St. Barnabas Episcopal Church and the Justice and Peace consortium, whose weekly rallies demanded better ways of handling local noncriminal incidents. Their leadership met with Cortez Chief of Police Vernon Knuckles; County Sheriff Steve Nowlin; former Cortez Mayor Mike Lavey; and the City Council. This required participation and courage in the face of angry opposition. Rather than “burning down the city,” as some accused them of wanting to do, these activists saw a wrong and sought ways to right it. That’s not anarchy; it’s good citizenship.
Erin and Fred Bird
Cortez
