BEXAR COUNTY, Texas — When a 911 call comes in about a mental health crisis, the Bexar County Specialized Multidisciplinary Alternative Response Team, or SMART team, now sends more than one officer and one EMS worker to the scene.

“We have the doctor who is normally from the health care services center,” said Leticia Dominguez, Bexar County Behavioral Health Manager.

She says the team has one main goal: reduce tension.

“Really what we are trying to avoid is jail,” Dominguez said.

However, they are sometimes more responsive to some of the more serious calls, like a year ago when officers responded to Melissa Perez. She suffered from schizophrenia and was allegedly going through a mental health crisis when she was shot and killed.

“I believe this team approach has saved lives,” Dominguez said.

And they are exceeding the hours they used to work, Monday through Saturday from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

“Right now, this is a trend that’s spreading across the country, you know these central response teams, so we’re very fortunate that our county has been very progressive in leading that initiative,” Dominguez said.

But she says just because they are focused on growing doesn’t mean they forgot about those they helped.

“They can guide and direct people to get the care they need, or maybe, if they missed an appointment, help them make that appointment,” Dominguez said.