During the Redmond City Council's Committee of the Whole meeting on June 17, 2025, Chief Darryl Low provided a significant update on the Thrive 2 program, aimed at enhancing the city's alternative crisis response capabilities. This initiative is particularly relevant as communities increasingly seek effective ways to address behavioral health issues without relying solely on traditional law enforcement methods.

The Thrive 2 program introduces a partnership with Sound Behavioral Health, a third-party entity funded through the King County levy. Located in the Together Center Building in Redmond, Sound Behavioral Health will deploy mobile response teams throughout the county to address behavioral health crises. This collaboration is designed to improve the city's response to individuals experiencing mental health challenges.

Chief Low explained that when a call related to behavioral health issues comes into the dispatch center, it will be screened based on specific criteria. If the call meets these criteria, it will be transferred to the 988 line, which is dedicated to crisis response. The mobile response team, consisting of a licensed mental health professional, a social worker, a crisis responder, and a certified peer counselor, will then be dispatched. This team operates 24/7 and boasts an average response time of just 15 minutes, a significant improvement over previous response protocols.

The Chief emphasized that this new approach is a more effective alternative to the previous plans that the council had considered, which would not have provided the same level of service or availability. The council is expected to receive quarterly updates on the program's performance, including data on call volumes and the integration of services related to mental health and homelessness outreach.

This update marks a crucial step in Redmond's efforts to enhance community safety and support for individuals in crisis, reflecting a growing recognition of the importance of mental health resources in public safety strategies. As the Thrive 2 program rolls out, its success will likely influence future discussions on resource allocation and community health initiatives in Redmond and beyond.