(Credit: Buckingham Police)
Buckingham Township Police Department has introduced its first co-responder, a move officials said will enhance how officers respond to individuals in crisis and connect them with appropriate services.
Corrine Beck has joined the department in the newly created role, serving not only Buckingham but also Solebury Township and New Hope Borough police departments. Employed through the Bucks County Human Services Division, Beck will work alongside officers to provide clinically informed support during calls involving mental health, substance use or other social service needs.
Police said the addition is designed to improve outcomes for residents by linking them with resources rather than defaulting to enforcement.
“This approach helps to divert individuals whose needs are primarily social or behavioral from unnecessary involvement in the criminal justice system,” the department said in announcing the position.
The co-responder model pairs trained social service professionals with law enforcement, typically responding after officers secure a scene. Once on site, the co-responder can assess the situation, provide support and help guide individuals toward appropriate care, whether through mental health services, addiction treatment or other community-based resources.
The initiative is part of Bucks County’s broader Co-Responder Program, which launched in 2020 as a pilot in Bensalem Township. The program has since expanded to multiple departments across the county following early success, with officials citing reduced demands on police time and improved connections to care for individuals in crisis.
County leaders said the program aims to create a more effective emergency response system by combining law enforcement with social services expertise, ensuring residents receive timely help while reducing unnecessary entry into the criminal justice system.
