For too long, people in Raleigh experiencing mental health crises have been met with a law enforcement response—often with tragic consequences. Raleigh CARES offers a different path: one grounded in compassion, not criminalization.

This is important because real lives are at stake. Soheil Antonio Mojarrad, Keith Dutree Collins, and Reuel Rodriguez Nunez were all killed by Raleigh police during mental health crises. These were preventable deaths—deaths that a properly funded and fully implemented CARES program could have helped avoid.

Residents across Raleigh have spoken clearly: they want a public safety system that sends clinicians, peer support specialists, and EMTs—not police—when someone is in crisis. In fact, recent community input shows over 90% support for this kind of care-first approach.

The infrastructure and funding for Raleigh CARES are already in place. But the most essential piece—the Community Response Teams—still hasn’t launched. Without them, the program remains incomplete, and police are still being asked to respond to situations they are not trained to handle.

This moment is about accountability. It’s about building a city where safety means connection, housing, health care, and human dignity.

Raleigh CARES can be that model—but only if city leaders follow through. That’s why we’re calling on the City Council to keep its promise and bring this vision to life.