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Data provided by the police department show the program has had a positive effect. In 2014, Appleton recorded 338 emergency detentions. The number fell to 244 in 2017 and to 236 in 2019, despite an increase in the number of welfare checks and mental heath calls. In 2020, even with the impact of COVID, we were down to 199, Thomas said. This reduction of 139 emergency detentions, or around 41%, from 2014 to 2020 is very significant and can be attributed to our community partners working in collaboration with our behavioral health officer and the APD to find better ways to serve these consumers. Thomas said model programs in Green Bay and Wausau showed similar progress. ....