Two years after the launch of the Nurse Police Team, Windsor police say the program has contributed to both improving police response times and reducing the burden on overcrowded emergency departments.
A partnership between the Windsor Police Service and Windsor Regional Hospital, the NPT pairs frontline police officers with registered nurses to respond to calls for service involving mental health and substance use challenges.
The program aims to divert individuals away from the criminal justice system and hospital emergency departments by providing proactive healthcare and support services.
Program statistics:
- Since the start of 2024, the NPT has responded to 3,118 calls for service and diverted 891 people away from the emergency department. The team has also treated 226 substance-related wounds, administered 44 lifesaving doses of naloxone, and connected 605 people with community resources.
- In the first three months of 2025, specialized team members handled 619 calls for service – a 48 per cent increase compared to the same period last year.
- Response times to priority one incidents have improved by over 30 per cent since the program launched. (“Priority one response time” measures how long it takes police to respond to the most urgent calls, including life-threatening situations.)
- The number of ED frequent users (patients who have a much higher than average number of ED visits within a 30-day period) has decreased by 25 per cent over the last eight months. For example, one individual who made 50 ED visits between November 2024 and January 2025 required only two visits between February and April 2025, as they are now connected to community addiction support resources.
Chief Jason Bellaire says some of the most frequent types of calls for service they receive deal with mental health and substance use crises.
“Through the NPT program, we are providing people in need with immediate, efficient support and access to ongoing care. This means officers are dealing with these same individuals less often and reducing potential for confrontation by connecting individuals in need with appropriate services. Also, we are making fewer hospital trips, enabling us to streamline our operations and achieve greater outcomes for our community.”
WRH acting president and CEO Karen Riddell says it is alleviating the burden on hospital emergency departments.
“We continue to see very positive results through our collaboration with Windsor Police Service. This partnership is a unique and innovative approach to providing care for those in need throughout our community, providing an alternative to the emergency department,” says Riddell.
