Maureen C. Malavé named inaugural Deputy Commissioner to lead the city’s new bureau

   (Plain Press October 2026) On September 22^nd the City of Cleveland announced it is launching its new Community Crisis Response Bureau within the Division of Emergency Medical Service (EMS), marking an important step in transforming how the City responds to behavioral health and substance-use emergencies.

   Established following the passage of Tanisha’s Law, the new bureau will oversee the development and implementation of unarmed community crisis response services designed to connect residents experiencing behavioral health and substance use emergencies with specialized care and support. The bureau will also provide executive oversight for related alternative response programs within EMS, including Community Outreach, Mobile Integrated Health and Community Paramedicine.

   To lead this critical initiative, the City hired Maureen C. Malavé as the first Deputy Commissioner of Community Crisis Response. Malavé brings extensive experience in community health, social services and program development to the newly created position.

   “The creation of this bureau represents a compassionate approach to public safety,” said Public Safety Director Wayne A. Drummond. “By strengthening the role of healthcare and behavioral health professionals in our emergency response system, we can better connect residents in crisis with the right resources while allowing police officers to focus on situations that require a law enforcement response. Under Deputy Commissioner Malavé’s leadership, we are building a more coordinated, accountable and care-focused approach to emergency response.”

   As Deputy Commissioner, Malavé will provide executive leadership for the Community Crisis Response Bureau and oversee the planning, development, implementation and evaluation of the City’s unarmed crisis response program. Her responsibilities will include developing policies, protocols, workflows and training; leading the recruitment and contracting of behavioral health clinicians, paramedics, peer supporters and other crisis-response personnel; and ensuring the bureau operates in compliance with applicable laws, regulations and professional standards.

   Malavé will also help advance innovative EMS service delivery models designed to improve community health outcomes, reduce unnecessary emergency department utilization and enhance the efficiency of Cleveland’s emergency response system. She will work closely with EMS leadership, City departments, healthcare and behavioral health providers, hospitals, public health agencies, social service organizations and other community partners to build a coordinated continuum of care.

   “I am deeply honored to serve the people of Cleveland in this new role,” said Deputy Commissioner Malavé. “Our goal is to build a sustainable system rooted in empathy, equity, accountability and evidence-based care. This work is about more than responding to a crisis in the moment. It is about creating stronger connections to healthcare and community resources, improving outcomes and continually evaluating how we can better serve Cleveland residents.”

Transforming Cleveland’s Emergency Response

   The Community Crisis Response Bureau will establish a comprehensive framework for expanding care-based responses to behavioral health emergencies while strengthening Cleveland’s broader system of alternative emergency response. Key elements include:

   Unarmed Community Crisis Response: The bureau will develop and deploy teams that include behavioral health clinicians, paramedics, peer supporters and other qualified professionals to respond to appropriate non-violent behavioral health emergencies and provide on-site stabilization, support and connection to services.

   Integrated and Coordinated Care: The bureau will work across the Division of EMS, 911 operations, healthcare providers, behavioral health organizations, social service agencies and other partners to establish coordinated pathways and specialized care response for residents experiencing a crisis.

   Clear Policies, Protocols and Training: The bureau will develop and continually evaluate policies, General Orders, protocols, workflows and training to ensure crisis response teams and other EMS personnel have clear standards for responding to behavioral health emergencies. Cleveland Division of Police personnel will continue to receive Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training and will continue to deploy Co-Responder Teams of a Specialized Crisis Intervention Trained (SCIT) police officer and a licensed clinician to support situations in which a coordinated law enforcement response is necessary

   Data, Accountability and Continuous Improvement: The bureau will establish systems to track response times, diversion rates, outcomes, personnel wellness and other performance measures. The City of Cleveland will use this information to evaluate the program, identify opportunities for improvement and provide greater transparency to the public.

   Community Partnerships: The bureau will serve as a bridge between the Division of EMS and hospitals, health systems, public health agencies, social service organizations, city departments and other community partners to strengthen the network of resources available to residents in crisis.

   Sustainable Service Delivery: The bureau will support the development and oversight of budgets, grants, pilot programs and long-term sustainability strategies to strengthen alternative response and community health initiatives.

   “Tanisha’s Law was about recognizing that when someone is experiencing a mental health or behavioral health crisis, they deserve a response that meets the moment with care, compassion, and the right resources,” said Councilwoman Stephanie Howse Jones. “The launch of the Community Crisis Response Bureau is an important step toward building a system that treats people with dignity while keeping our communities safe. This moment is the manifestation of more than a decade of collective advocacy, work that became legislation and is now action delivering real results for Cleveland residents.”

   The Community Crisis Response Bureau will begin a phased field rollout this fall, with the City expanding the program and its capabilities as the necessary infrastructure, personnel, protocols and community partnerships are established.

   The bureau will also develop an annual public impact report to provide Cleveland residents with information about the program’s performance, outcomes and ongoing development.