Ep 21: Intercept One: Rewiring 911, Crisis Response & the Future of Public Safety | Andrew Dameron

Ep 21: Intercept One: Rewiring 911, Crisis Response & the Future of Public Safety | Andrew Dameron

From BomBardened by BomBardened

February 10, 2026 · 56 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the reimagining of crisis response in public safety with Andrew Dameron, focusing on mental health integration and data-driven approaches.

In this episode, Eric and Amy sit down with Andrew Dameron, Director of Denver 911, to unpack how crisis response is being reimagined from the very first call for help. Drawing on Denver’s STAR program, Andrew explains why mental health and behavioral crisis response must be treated as core public safety—not an “alternative”—and why 911 is the most powerful point of intervention. They discuss the challenges of integrating clinicians into emergency systems, the limits of one-size-fits-all responses, and how data—not fear—should determine when police are needed and when they aren’t. Andrew also shares why professionalizing crisis response, building dedicated dispatch pathways, and aligning public safety and public health are essential to breaking cycles of crisis before arrest. This is a candid conversation about systems change, leadership, and getting the right responder to the right call when it matters most.

People in this episode

Hosts: Eric, Amy

Guest: Andrew Dameron

Topics covered

  • crisis response
  • public safety
  • mental health
  • emergency systems
  • data-driven decision making

Keywords

  • Denver 911
  • STAR program
  • behavioral crisis
  • dispatch pathways
  • systems change

Mentioned in this episode

Products: 911, Denver 911, STAR program

Books & works: Intercept One:, Rewiring 911, Crisis Response & the Future of Public Safety

Places: Denver

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