APPENDIX C

Boston-Logan International Airport’s CRT

BOS sees an average of 3.8 million traveling passengers a month and covers nearly 2,400 acres. In managing an area comparable to a medium-sized city, the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) faces real-life community issues that require planning to support the diverse needs of residents and visitors. The airport environment is a microcosm of broader societal challenges, and its continued growth increases the frequency of encounters with individuals in distress. Massport and the Massachusetts State Police saw a need to establish effective response mechanisms that could provide necessary assistance and support to individuals in distress while mitigating the potential for unintended consequences. The Massachusetts State Police is the law enforcement authority with statutory jurisdiction to police BOS property.

In 2017, the Massachusetts State Police unit assigned to BOS implemented a groundbreaking co-response model aimed at revolutionizing crisis intervention in an airport setting. This innovative approach involved pairing mental health professionals with LEOs to address situations involving individuals in crisis while on airport property. The effectiveness of this model was notable, as it provided a compassionate and effective response to individuals experiencing mental health challenges while ensuring the smooth operation of airport activities.

By combining the expertise of mental health professionals with the authority of law enforcement, the co-response model enabled a more holistic and empathetic approach to crisis intervention. This collaboration allowed for de-escalation techniques to be prioritized over traditional enforcement methods, resulting in better outcomes for individuals in distress.

The Crisis Response Team

Prior to the initiation of the CRT, the State Police crisis team could encounter 25–30 individuals a day in the terminals who frequented the airport for shelter. For over 2 decades, BOS has been home to a persistent population of people experiencing homelessness, enduring cycles of hardship exacerbated by factors such as substance abuse, mental illness, and the inability to advocate for themselves. The State Police wanted more options than arrests or removal from the terminal to handle individuals in crisis.

Establishing the CRT connected the Massachusetts State Police and North Suffolk Community Services to provide behavioral health services at the airport and all Massport properties. The CRT responds to calls for homelessness, substance use, behavioral health emergencies, and others in need of further services. The team also assists the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), TSA, CBP, Massachusetts State Police, and local and state agencies in supporting calls for terroristic threats, human trafficking, gun and drug trafficking, behavioral health, stalking, domestic violence, and missing persons.

CRT clinicians help connect individuals to services such as outpatient therapy, inpatient services, family and couples support, acute stress management, and long-term behavioral health support. The clinicians recommend services through local nonprofit organizations and state departments such as Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, Department of Transitional Assistance, Department of Children and Families, Department of Elder Services, and Department of Developmental Services. These services are also offered to aviation workers, if needed.

Clinician Availability

The co-response program at BOS is the first official co-response program with a state police department. Since it was initiated, the program has continued to grow and change to meet the airport’s needs. The initial program vision was one full-time clinician available to respond with state police to calls at BOS. As of 2024, the CRT has grown to two full-time clinicians, one clinical supervisor, and three full-time state troopers. The clinical supervisor spends a significant amount of time supporting the team and helping with both clinical and logistical support daily.

Before the airport had a full-time clinician stationed at the airport, state troopers were able to contact the 24/7 local mobile crisis intervention team to request a clinician perform an onsite psychiatric evaluation at the airport; however, it could be an hour or more before a clinician arrived. Having clinical staff onsite with TSA and police clearance reduced the response time exponentially.

Conclusion

BOS’s co-response model and CRT are an innovative approach to behavioral health that has demonstrated successful outcomes, including managing unruly and disruptive individuals in an airport setting. Through a series of successful interventions, the program has proven its capacity to swiftly and skillfully address crises while maintaining a safe and secure environment for passengers and other airport users. Central to its efficacy is the delicate balance struck between providing necessary support to individuals in crisis and upholding the overall safety and operational integrity of the airport. This approach ensures that not only are immediate challenges managed effectively, but also that the broader interests of all stakeholders, including travelers, are safeguarded.