Mental and behavioral health is increasingly prevalent and touches people in every community. It’s seen in the high school student experiencing anxiety in class, the seemingly successful neighbor who recently lost their job, the 80-year-old man with early-stage dementia and in those who quietly struggle alone. The St. Louis Park Police Department has witnessed firsthand the increase in individuals needing more support through their daily work and calls for service.
In 2024, the department launched its Behavioral Health Unit to more effectively address and respond to mental health, behavioral health, and substance use challenges seen in the community. The unit is led by officers Don Lewis and Erin Nordrum, along with an on-site social worker. Together, Officers Lewis and Nordrum bring more than 50 years of experience, including work on the department’s crisis negotiation team, but that alone is not why they were selected for the job or why they have been so successful leading the unit. Lewis and Nordrum have a strong passion for helping people through moments of crisis, and their life experiences allow them to connect with individuals in a genuine, compassionate way during some of the hardest times in their lives.
The success of the program isn’t something you can fully capture with statistics and numbers alone. While it might seem like there would be fewer calls for service as more people get the help they need, the department is actually seeing the opposite — and that’s what they expected and hoped.
“Through the BHU, we are breaking down barriers and building trust within the community. We see individuals now feeling more comfortable to contact us in times of need or crisis,” explained Officer Lewis. “We have people we have never worked with contacting us, as well as those who we have already worked with reaching out again for help. This new comfort and trust gives us the opportunity to have more successful outcomes, both short-term and long-term.”
Successful outcomes often begin with the first interaction. Officers Lewis and Nordrum are able to spend the kind of time with people that patrol officers often can’t — time to build trust, recognize concerns, and truly understand what someone needs and what the best next step should be. When hospital transports are needed, they do more than simply drop someone off. They remain with the individual to make sure doctors, nurses or other staff fully understand their situation and story — something that can easily get lost or not communicated when simply dropping someone off. They’ve built relationships with hospital staff, helping ensure individuals receive more informed treatment, better resources and stronger support. Officers Lewis and Nordrum’s involvement and commitment don’t end there. They continue to speak with hospital staff, family members and the individuals themselves, checking in on their well-being and supporting the progress they are making
“Our evaluation of the BHU’s success may not be seen in simply decreasing the number of mental health calls, but maybe in the ability to save a life or help someone create a better future moving forward,” Officer Nordrum said. “By building relationships and connecting people to the right resources, we hope to make a small dent in the increasing demand for mental health support, one call or step at a time. From the heartfelt feedback and thanks we have received since starting the unit, there is no doubt in my mind that it has been a success.”
Through their dedication, compassion and ability to think beyond traditional approaches, the Behavioral Health Unit team are making an impact that reaches far beyond the individuals they serve. They’re also supporting family members and friends — people who have often done everything they can, but may not have had the resources or new ways to connect and truly help their loved ones.
In the future, as the police department continues to see the program’s success, it hopes to expand the program and add additional BHU officers and social workers. Having additional team members would increase their ability to connect individuals with the support and resources they need quicker and help more people experiencing mental and behavioral health issues.
Excerpt of thank you note from St. Louis Park residents to the SLPPD
"I want to express great gratitude for your mental health officers Erin Nordrum and Don Lewis. They have been a consistent support and presence through our daughter’s mental health crisis. Officer Nordrum stayed with us, making sure our daughter was safe, getting help and having a plan for recovery. As parents, she coached us and gave us perspective and strategies on how to support our daughter without interfering, respecting her boundaries, but assuring us she was safe. She called our daughter regularly to check on her recovery and safety. They were available to her as support from the initial police call, to the crisis intervention to the home recovery. Both officers have been a lifeline of support for our daughter and us. They have been our angels." — Identities withheld to protect privacy.
Alternative response medic teams up with BHU
In 2025, the BHU began teaming with an alternative response medic from the St. Louis Park Fire Department to assist with medical-related calls. The presence of a paramedic provides an added layer of support, as they bring advanced medical training beyond what officers and other first responders typically have. This allows them to identify medical concerns that might otherwise go unnoticed, such as improper medication combinations, and connect individuals with additional resources.
Watch a video featuring the alternative response medic and behavior health unit team speak more about what they do.
