Statement from Washtenaw County Community Mental Health (WCCMH)
Statement from Washtenaw County Community Mental Health (WCCMH)
In Response to the events of January 4-5, 2026, police incident in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
In Response to the events of January 4-5, 2026, police incident in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
WCCMH is a primary provider of mental health, substance use disorder, and intellectual/developmental disability services in Washtenaw County. We provide 24/7 crisis support through our crisis hotline and mobile crisis teams, as well as ongoing services including case management, psychiatry, therapy, and referrals for children, adults, and families. WCCMH is a critical resource for community well-being.
WCCMH provides a comprehensive crisis continuum of care to all Washtenaw County residents:
- Unarmed Mobile Crisis Response:
Our unarmed mobile crisis teams respond to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis in the community, as well as to third-party callers expressing concern for a friend or family member. These teams are dispatched through our 24/7 crisis support line. - Coordinated Response with Law Enforcement:
When individuals call 911 for a mental health crisis, the call is received by dispatch, routed to local law enforcement and law enforcement is encouraged to reach out to WCCMH mental health professionals to coordinate a response.
When individuals call the WCCMH 24/7 crisis support line, WCCMH mental health professionals may coordinate with law enforcement when a risk of harm or safety issue is suspected. - Crisis Response Unit (CRU):
WCCMH participates in the Washtenaw County Crisis Response Unit, which pairs a Sheriff’s deputy with a Community Mental Health social worker. These units respond together to law enforcement calls involving individuals who may be experiencing higher risk mental health crisis, with the goal of de-escalation, connection to services, and reducing unnecessary arrests or hospitalizations. - Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT):
The highest level of response is the Washtenaw County Crisis Negotiation Team. WCCMH is fully embedded in CNT and responds to all crisis negotiator callouts. CNT is a specialized joint unit of the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office and WCCMH that focuses on de-escalating high-risk situations through communication and mental health expertise.
WCCMH was not contacted by the individual involved, their family, or law enforcement prior to the January 4, 2026, incident or in months preceding.
In this event, WCCMH became aware of the situation through its role with the Crisis Negotiation Team. As part of CNT, WCCMH’s responsibilities include assisting clinically; identifying past or current medications; providing relevant mental health history; and sharing other pertinent medical or behavioral health information to support negotiation efforts and promote the safest possible outcome.
WCCMH continues to work with community partners to coordinate and serve as a resource to deescalate situations at the earliest intervention point possible. Our shared goal across all levels of response is to ensure that mental health professionals are available to provide support, guidance, and expertise to community members and law enforcement partners, while ensuring individuals receive care in the least restrictive and most appropriate setting possible.
Contact our 24/7 crisis support line, 365 days per year, at 734-544-3050 to receive immediate crisis services, information about WCCMH services, referrals to community-based resources and providers, and more.
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Washtenaw County Government
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Sally Amos O'Neal
- January 09, 2026
- 734-544-3050
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