Joining the Saskatoon, Regina, and Prince Albert agencies, the Moose Jaw Police Service has announced that the Friendly City's Police and Crisis Team program is now fully operational.

Already active to a certain degree for the past month, the PACT partners mental health professionals with members of the Moose Jaw Police Service to respond to calls involving people in a mental health crisis.

Kirsten Clark is a Mental Health Addictions Worker with the Saskatchewan Health Authority enjoys her new role in the PACT program.

"We've been working together, historically, with the police for a long time but this is a great partnership because we're actually there, in the moment with people and helping out when they need it."

Constable Shawn Mohle explains the program relies on a close partnership with the mental health professionals.

"We respond to calls together, so it's a police officer and a mental health professional," explained Mohle. "It's nice when we go to meet with somebody who is in crisis, that we have those two tools available."

PACT interventions will also free up officers who would typically be in the waiting room with patients they had to bring to them.